An Introduction to Yoga
Yoga is the ancient way to attain physical, mental, and spiritual practice. Primarily originating in India, the word 'yoga' is derived from Sanskrit, meaning to unite. This unity signifies the ultimate union of the body with consciousness and thus attaining definitive peace.
Recognizing the universal appeal of Yoga, on December 11 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 to be marked as the International Day of Yoga.
It was first started by our present Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. He celebrated Yoga Day for the first time on June 21 in 2015, after which Yoga Day started being celebrated all over the world on June 15, and it turned into International Yoga Day. Since then, Yoga Day has been celebrated every year by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in India.
As per the calendar, this date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, from the Yoga's perspective, this summer solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. Dakshinayana is the six-month tenure for the sun to travel to the south on the celestial sphere in between the Summer and the Winter solstice.
In today's times, this is practised in various forms across different parts of the world and is growing more and more popular. The main aim of celebrating International Day of Yoga is to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits of Yoga. However, Yoga is much more than just a mere physical activity.
As per one of the famous Yoga practitioners, late B. K. S. Iyengar, Yoga is the best way to cultivate and maintain a balanced attitude in daily life while bequeathing the best of performance skills in every action being made.
History of International Yoga Day
Yoga is a centuries-old practice that originated somewhere around 5,000 years ago in India. This was looked up as a process and technique to interconnect the mind, body and soul together and take a step closer to enlightenment. As this practice gained popularity in the West, this started to be termed an exercise and relaxation method. This was also associated with the claims to alleviate any existing physical injuries and chronic pains.
The idea to mark June 21 as International Yoga Day was first proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014. It was during his UN General Assembly speech where the resolution was introduced by India's Ambassador, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, to June 21 as International Yoga Day.
On June 21, 2015, i.e., when this day was first celebrated, more than 36,000 people from all over India joined Prime Minister Modi to perform 21 yoga postures, also called asanas, for 35 minutes at Rajpath, New Delhi. Shri Narendra Modi was further joined by other high-profile political and famous leaders across the globe.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a process in which man tries to bring his mind, body and soul together. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning to meet or be united. Yoga originates from Indian culture. People have been practising Yoga since about 5000 years ago. Yoga does not have physical fitness primarily; in Yoga, people try to control their body and mind through mental focus and breathing methods.
If men teach Yoga, then they are called yogis, and if women teach, they are called yoginis. Yoga Sutra is a 2000-year-old book. This is the only book in which written evidence of Yoga has been found. This book is the oldest book about Yoga. Yogic philosophy is described in this book. A lot of methods have been conveyed about how someone can control their mind, their emotion, and merge into spirituality.
Yoga is divided into six branches, namely Hatha Yoga, Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga, Tantra yoga. There are also seven chakras of yoga styles namely Sahasram chakra, Ajna chakra, Vishuddha chakra, Anahata chakra, Manipura chakra, Svadhishthana chakra, Muladhara chakra.
There are total 13 types of Yoga: Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Yin Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Power Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Acro Yoga.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is the only process in which you can exercise without any equipment. Not only that but in Yoga, you can drive away your diseases without any medicine.
With Yoga, you can increase the flexibility of your body. If there is flexibility in one's body, then the pain is much less in that body. Doing Yoga can relieve your pain.
If a person does Yoga for 20 to 30 minutes daily, then his body does not get tired throughout the day.
Yoga is very beneficial for children. Yoga is also helpful in calming the mind, and it is also helpful in showing the right attitude. Doing Yoga produces positive thoughts, and it also takes the mind to do the right thing
Muscles get strong by doing Yoga. By going to the gym, doing weight exercises also strengthen muscles, but when you do Yoga, your muscles become strong, and at the same time, it becomes flexible also, so there is no arthritis and back pain.
Doing Yoga keeps the mind calm. By doing this, anxiety does not come. Diseases like mental stress and hypertension remain away from the body.
Doing Yoga improves human posture.
Yoga helps bones remain strong, and there is no joint pain. Blood flow remains good by doing Yoga. It also improves the heart rate of the body and also boosts immunity. Not only this, but Yoga also helps in controlling blood pressure and controls blood sugar levels.
Weight loss is also very quick and easy due to Yoga. Yoga makes the person happy all the time. It enhances peace of mind which leads to good sleep.
Role of India to promote Yoga
Yoga originated in India. Yoga has been practised in India for about 5000 years; every person in India knows about Yoga very much in advance, people know its benefits, and it has been done before it became popular in the world. In his speech given in the UN, the current Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, gave the idea of making International Yoga important.
He said in his speech," Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but discovering the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. Changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day."
With this, the UN Assembly accepted this proposal and decided to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 every year. Also, there are several exercises being organized in the schools like writing International Yoga Day Essays for students in English and other vernacular languages.
Significance of Yoga
Shiva, also known as Adiyogi, is considered the originator and creator of Yoga. This was further brought to the masses by the Saptarishis. As per the Indian mythological story, Shiva sat in a meditating position for years. Then, seven people were impressed by his level of determination, so they decided to learn from him, and they sat still for more than 84 years.
After this, Lord Shiva noticed these 7 beings on the summer solstice day and transmitted the science of meditation to the Saptarishis (7 rishis).
International Yoga Day 2021: List of suggested Activities in India
To reach out to the people and induct them into the delightful world of Yoga, some of the activities suggested this year were:
Internal guidelines issuance within the offices with the background of the observation of the then International Day of Yoga. This can also be mentioned or displayed on the respective websites for awareness.
With social media platforms, cover the latest updates and details about International Yoga Day.
Preach the staff with Common Yoga Protocol and organize the online training programmes for these protocols
Ensure maximum participation for the Common Yoga Protocol in a COVID-19 compliant manner.
Circulate the relevant materials to all employees and associates to further share the awareness.
Organize related activities like online lectures sessions and workshops for Yoga experts.
Circulation of Yoga costumes, mats, and other related goodies to motivate all for Yoga practising and adoption.
Publish Yoga and specific articles across organizations with official e-newsletters, bulletins, magazines, and other publishings.
International Yoga Day Objectives
The main objective to adopt International Yoga Day is as mentioned below.
Promote enhanced mental and physical health advantages amongst the people.
Aware the public of Yoga's holistic advantages.
Promote awareness among people about Yoga's natural and amazing results.
Assist people to connect with nature while practising Yoga daily.
Reduction in the rate of fatal diseases across nations.
Unification of communities while devoting quality time for health from monotonous work routines.
Growth enhancement and development together to bring peace.
Encouraging people to eliminate negativity and embrace yoga asanas.
Triumph over bad mental and physical health.
Promote healthy living habits amongst the masses.
Conclusion
International Yoga Day is celebrated every June 21. It was introduced by our honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. It aims to provide mental health fitness, physical health fitness of mind, body and soul. It also rejuvenates our body and keeps us calm. On this day there are many activities that take place in school along with parents.
FAQs on International Yoga Day Essay
1. What is Yoga?
Yoga is a process in which man tries to bring his mind, body and soul together. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning to meet or be united. Yoga originates from Indian culture.
2. When was the first time International Yoga Day was celebrated?
It was first started by our present Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who celebrated Yoga Day for the first time on June 21 in 2015, after which Yoga Day started being celebrated all over the world on June 15.
3. How Yoga is beneficial for children?
Yoga is very beneficial for children. Yoga helps calm the mind, and it is also helpful in showing the right attitude. Doing Yoga produces positive thoughts, and it also takes the mind to do the right things. That is why doing Yoga can improve the concentration of children in studies. It helps in focusing on the right path. Yoga improves mood swings and reduces stress levels. It also helps improve memory and helps them focus on what they are doing, along with improved sleep levels.
4. How can Yoga benefit our Body Physically?
With Yoga, the bones remain stronger than others, and there would be no joint pain. Yoga enables good blood flow to all the organs and improves heart functioning. Not only this, but Yoga also helps control blood pressure and blood sugar level along with boosting immunity. Yoga also helps weight loss quickly and strengthen muscles. Strengthening muscles is also done with the weight exercises at the gym, but with Yoga, the muscles become flexible at the same time with no further arthritis and back pain.
5. What is the best time to Practice Yoga?
Mornings are the best time to practice Yoga. When you start your day with Yoga, you will experience that you are staying more energetic and focused throughout the day. The prime reason is the fresh air in the morning. It helps you get mentally and physically prepared for the challenges awaiting the rest of the day. Also, after you awake, the muscles stay stiff in the morning. So, practising Yoga in the morning time would stretch your stiff muscles while adding flexibility.
6. What is the frequency of Yoga practice?
Depending on your availability and schedule, you can either join any yoga classes nearby or online, weekly or daily. Yoga practice daily for 15 minutes also would be very beneficial. The best thing about Yoga is that one can take up yoga classes as frequent as one needs. If anyone does not have time to attend classes, online yoga sessions are readily available for them. Just to ensure that while practising yoga at home, you have an appropriate atmosphere to breathe.
7. Which Yoga Style should one follow?
To start with beginners, one needs to be well- aware that there are various forms of Yoga to practice like meditative, fast-paced, slow-paced and restorative forms. These are some of the forms commonly used, and there are other forms as well. Each yoga style is different from others and so as to benefits. Choosing the right yoga style is dependent on factors like age, fitness goals, activity level, current activity level, temperament, time, and more. The beginners might need a lot more time to experiment with different yoga styles to decide the one meeting their needs.
8. How can I download reading material from Vedantu?
Accessing material from Vedantu is extremely easy and student-friendly. Students have to simply visit the website of Vedantu and create an account. Once you have created the account you can simply explore the subjects and chapters that you are looking for. Click on the download button available on the website on Vedantu to download the reading material in PDF format. You can also access all the resources by downloading the Vedantu app from the play store.
