This June 21, the world celebrates the ninth Yoga Day since its declaration and adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. In the crowd of celebration of different international days, the International Day of Yoga is perhaps one of the most popular with the highest number of public participation. The whole world, particularly the Yoga enthusiasts, start their preparations much in advance to celebrate this day as a great and memorable event. Different government organisations and ministries in India start the countdown to Yoga Day well ahead of the approaching day. Yoga festivals, Yogotsav and similar events are conducted at full extent with active public participation. The Yoga organisations are deeply engaged in celebrating this day as a memorable day. Everybody wants to be dipped in the colour of Yoga this day.
The ministry of AYUSH, the nodal ministry for celebration of International Day of Yoga, has created a Yoga portal which says that ‘Yoga is a trend that has been flourishing over the years; rather, it has become a trendsetter in maintaining physical and mental well-being. Each Yogic activity is a key to improving flexibility, strength, balance, and harmony’. Yoga portal is a platform to help people embrace, practice, and enjoy Yoga daily. It is a perfect gateway to search for the best Yoga resources, Common Yoga Protocol training videos, Yoga Research, Yoga Centres, and the latest Yoga events to participate in. Different activities like Yoga classes, Yoga camps, awareness and sensitisation talk and discussions, live Yoga demonstrations, meditation classes, and other competitions are being organised for the youth to attract and motivate them towards the practice of Yoga. Higher educational institutions are already geared up with organisation of practice of common Yoga protocol, seminars, and webinars on various aspects of Yoga. Medical establishments are also equally engaged in celebrating International Day of Yoga because of the role and importance of Yoga in health and management of disease.
Increased Awareness About Health
Since the celebration of the International Day of Yoga has been commenced, it is observed that we have started giving more attention to our body, our fitness, our weight, our flexibility, and our wellness. Now everybody wants to be healthy, fit, and flexible with the help of Yoga or some other form of exercise like walking or jogging or something else. Most of the people prefer Yoga practice and the main objective is gaining health and wellness. Interestingly, nobody wants to be unfit. Is it not so? Now, there is no apprehension in practicing Yoga. A lot of people can be seen regularly practicing Yoga in nearby parks and open grounds either in groups or alone.
The entire scenario of the country has been drastically changed. If you compare this situation before the year 2014, you can easily notice a big transformation. Transformation of thoughts, transformation of mind set, transformation of attitude, transformation of thinking about our own health and so on. We are more attentive and conscious now towards our health and wellness. The crowd in Yoga centres and increasing number of students pursuing higher studies in Yoga very clearly show the impact of Yoga on our mind. Yoga has a global recognition and appreciation. No doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened our thoughts related to health and wellness in a convincing manner and realised us to think on this issue that health is first and foremost.
The practice of Yoga has proved a boon to the suffering mankind. Several research studies conducted globally have proved this many times and the research continues. Scientists and researchers are engaged in finding the way out in terms of best practices to manage the havoc of lifestyle related disease conditions increasing at a fast pace. The world is badly suffering from the attack of non-communicable diseases, increasing issues related to mental health, situations arise due to post COVID-19 pandemic and is looking towards Yoga as a safe and sustainable solution and relief. Yoga practices have successfully proved their potential in strengthening immunity during the management of COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while promoting and popularising Yoga, very rightly emphasises that ‘Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change’.
Yoga, Lifestyle and Environment
Yoga repeatedly talks about lifestyle modification and concerns with the nature and environment. In this context, it is not out of place to mention that the concept of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) was introduced by the Prime Minister of India at COP26 in Glasgow on 1 November 2021, calling upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards ‘mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption’ to protect and preserve the environment. It can be very well said that Yoga completely fits in this concept of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ than any other system as Yoga emphasises upon the judicial use of the panchamahabhutas. It works on the concept of simple living in accordance with nature.
Yoga is usually called a lifestyle, a way of healthy life, and a science as well as art of healthy and happy living. Yoga is an evergreen gift from India to mankind. It teaches us everything we want to learn, starting from daily routine to how to live gracefully and happily. Right from eating, thinking, dressing, sleeping, moving, talking, Yoga has all its principles which are very clear. Now, with the increased awareness about Yoga globally, it is our chance to inculcate it in our lifestyle to live a healthy and happy life. We should make it an inseparable part of daily routine. Today’s unhealthy, mechanical, and stressful lifestyle is one of the major factors of so many illnesses. Non-communicable diseases are spreading very fast, and we must act quickly to get rid of these. Yoga has been established and proved by the researchers as one of the easiest and effective tools to treat and manage unhealthy lifestyle and related disorders. It brings order to our lives, eliminating the causative factors of illness. So, why should we not consider celebrating Yoga Day the whole year instead of one day to combat illnesses and promote happiness? In view of the above, every day should be Yoga Day for us.
We know that our life today is full of stress, anxiety, tensions, and worries. Besides, we have high expectations and desires which further increase our unease and stress. The whole day we face different situations, good or bad which affect our mood, our eating habits, sleeping patterns, behaviour, focus, and thought processes. If we are calm, we can face the adverse situations very easily whereas if our thoughts are not consistent, we may not be able to face the adverse situations. Yoga develops this confidence in us. It helps to make us self-reliant (atmanirbhar) in health care. The regular practice of Yoga makes you a different personality from others. A qualitative difference can be seen in a Yoga sadhaka in the level of confidence, calmness, patience, positivity, responsibility, etc. which can be rarely seen in others.
Getting Started with Yoga
But despite the increasing craze for Yoga in public, it is felt that a lot of things are still required to be done. Still, so many people do not consider Yoga practice seriously. They start it when suffering from some chronic disorder where the life may be at risk. Sometimes, they wait until the condition moves beyond control and somebody advises them to practise Yoga. From here, the journey of exploring the social media, internet, Youtube, and WhatsApp starts, in search of yogic practices that need to be learnt. But this is not the correct way. It is always better and advisable to consult a physician and a Yoga therapist for making a Yoga related schedule or programme for you. After starting the practice, regularity and a follow up diary is also required to be maintained. Start with simple one, and gradually move towards hard practices if advised so. It is also seen that the practitioners feel themselves impatient after starting Yoga as they are looking for some quick results. But always it is advised to practice it for a particular period along with a yogic diet schedule and certain dos and don’ts. However, regular practice for longer days is always beneficial. Nothing is more beneficial if we could start our day with Yoga.
The basic thing in Yoga practice is the individual’s involvement. It is observed several times that Yoga is practiced mechanically like an exercise because the practitioner is supposed to complete the task within a time frame which is not advisable. You can come across so many persons who have been practicing Yoga regularly for years but still have anxiety, stress, tension, anger, and uneasiness because they don’t involve themselves in the practice. Rather, they practice Yoga in a mechanical way in a hurry without focussing their concentration on the practice they are doing and also the breathing pattern. At that time, their mind wanders somewhere else instead of focussing on the practice. Hence, complete involvement in the practice is always essential for optimum results.
Finding Balance in Life
In today’s chaotic condition where things are scattered and expectations are at an unprecedented high, Yoga prepares and trains us for a healthy and happy life which includes regular daily routine, good eating habits, good thinking habits, and a good sleeping hygiene, besides so many other advantages. It balances the chaotic situation, makes things simple and understandable, and often paves the way to come out from those difficult situations. Besides this, daily practice of Yoga can give you numerous health benefits. Some of them are — overall health and general wellbeing, improved flexibility, correct posture, increased muscle strength and tone, proper maintenance of weight, better immunity, high energy level, good quality of sleep, due importance to food, healthy eating habits, better understanding and behaviour, strong social relationships, increased level of awareness, balanced metabolism, improved respiration, and vitality, free from stress and anxiety, high level of confidence, focussed approach, healthy attitude, positiveness, etc.
In this era of unhealth, Yoga is the only scientific way which motivates us towards the benefits of a traditional healthy lifestyle. Yoga promotes positive health, prevents disease, manages the disease conditions, and helps in restoring health in a holistic way. The whole world is looking eagerly towards Yoga for health and wellbeing. It deals with all aspects like physical, social, mental, moral, emotional, and spiritual, and makes the practitioner balanced in his thoughts and behaviour. A research study says: ‘As a form of low-impact exercise, Yoga has been shown to lower stress hormones in our bodies while simultaneously increasing beneficial brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These feel-good chemicals help decrease anxiety and improve mood’. Another research has shown that yoga practice can reduce risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. Studies on older adults have shown significant improvements in balance, mobility, cognitive function and overall quality of life.
Here, we must understand that Yoga is not a workout like other form of exercises, rather it is a unique combination of different postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama), relaxation (shithilikaran), and meditation (dhyana), which are responsible for transformation of our health at different levels. Interestingly, Yoga is being used as an add-on therapy or adjuvant therapy in different research studies along with conventional medicine and other systems, establishing its importance globally.
A Way of Life
On the 8th International Day of Yoga in 2022, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi remarked that ‘Yoga has now become a global festival as there is widespread acceptance of the ancient Indian practice. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is — Yoga for humanity. This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us, and Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness’.
Yoga is a spiritual discipline. The journey of Yoga starts from making ourselves a better person with better thoughts and better understanding. It creates a bond with us, with the family, with society, with the environment, with trees and animals, with rivers and mountains, and with the planet we live in. A bond of understanding and oneness. It makes us free from the unhealth. It relaxes and gives peace of mind. It is like a light in dark and closed room and revives our closed relations with fellow humans. Yoga heals and helps us in making our life happy and beautiful. Hence, Yoga is practiced for total health.
In the present scenario of unhealth, following the yogic way is the need of the hour. If you really want to save your health and live a healthy lifestyle, you must follow a yogic routine. It will empower you by making the foundation of your health strong and sustainable. We must understand that there is no shortcut for health. If you want to be healthy, you must follow the routine. Yoga is a mainstream activity now the world over and the way to achieve the best.
So, what are you waiting for? Make a resolution, have a chatai, identify some peaceful area, and start practicing Yoga from today itself, because tomorrow never comes. Don’t think what will people say? Make it a habit and start feeling the difference. Do Yoga every day, because it is the safest and easiest way to deal with anxiety, hate and unease spreading in society. Sometimes, it appears that practicing Yoga may not be very helpful for a particular illness or a disease condition, but certainly people of all age groups and physical abilities can practice Yoga. Because it focusses, it motivates, it encourages, and spreads positivity around us. So don’t wait for Yoga Day celebrations. Instead, celebrate Yoga Day every day, the whole month, the whole year, and the whole life. Celebrate it lifelong as a festival of balanced thoughts, peace and happiness, and transformation into a different personality to make all of us true citizens of the country and to become self-reliant in the matters of health.
*The writer is former Assistant Director (Naturopathy), CCRYN, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi. Presently, he is Director and Advisor of the upcoming Panchatatva Medical College and Research Centre of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Samalkha, Haryana. He can be reached at rajivrastogi2018@gmail.com
