“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”

- Indian PM Narendra Modi, at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

What is International Yoga Day?

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. June 21 was chosen as it is the Summer Solstice, the day where there’s the most sun out of every other day of the year. Overall, it received support from 177 nations, the highest number of co-sponsors for any United Nations (UN) resolution, proclaiming June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The theme for International Yoga Day 2021 is Yoga for Well-being. This theme was created to emphasize the importance of the role of yoga in dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

What is yoga?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice originating in India. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. The overall philosophy of yoga is connecting mind, body, and spirit. There are several types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice. Today it is practiced in various forms worldwide and continues to grow in popularity.

What are some benefits of yoga?

Yoga offers physical, mental, and spiritual health benefits for people of all ages. Regular yoga can promote endurance, strength, calmness, flexibility, and well-being. Numerous studies show yoga’s benefits in arthritis, osteopenia, balance issues, oncology, women’s health, chronic pain, and other specialties. Because scientific research demonstrates the benefits of yoga, the U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health, and other large organizations listen to and incorporate scientific validation of yoga’s value in health care.

Yoga Journal notes 38 benefits of yoga, and I can vouch for these benefits in my personal life, including:

Improves flexibility
Builds muscle strength
Perfects posture
It prevents cartilage and joint breakdown
Protects your spine
It betters your bone health
Increases blood flow
Drains lymph and boosts immunity
Ups heart rate
Drops blood pressure
Regulates adrenal glands (yoga lowers cortisol levels, which are responsible for stress, weight gain, depression, and osteoporosis)
Makes you happier
It serves as a foundation for a holistically healthier lifestyle
lowers blood sugar
Helps you focus
Relaxes your system
Improves balance
Maintains your nervous system
Releases tension in your limbs
It enables you to sleep better
Boosts your immune functionality
It gives your lungs room to breathe
It prevents irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems
It gives you peace of mind
Increases your self-esteem
It eases pain
It gives you inner strength
Connects you with guidance
It helps keep you drug-free
Builds awareness for transformation
Benefits your relationships
Uses sound to soothe your sines (hello breathwork!)
Guides your body’s healing in your mind’s eye (mental benefits of yoga)
Keeps allergies and viruses at bay (breathwork, cleansing practices)
It helps you serve others
Encourages self-care
It supports your connective tissue
Uses the placebo effect to affect change

Is yoga for everyone?

Whether you’re young or old, overweight or fit, flexible or inflexible, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body. Yoga is for everyone; it doesn’t discriminate. Your age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, personality, height, width, sexual orientation, etc., won’t affect your ability to do yoga. Yoga does not have any requirements. Yoga is for everyone and anyone, everybody, and anybody.

How do we practice yoga during a pandemic?

Different forms of yoga can help us stay physically strong and mentally balanced. Some ways that we can practice yoga during a pandemic include:

Attend an outdoor event such as yoga in the park
Schedule an in-person class with only your immediate family members
Find an online class
Watch yoga videos
Engage in your regular wellness practices (breathwork, drinking loose leaf teas, yoga postures)
Create time and space in your home for yoga practice (your bed at bedtime, a corner in your house in the morning, a room during the afternoon)
Find a meditation practice
Volunteer
Sign up for a virtual yoga session with me
During your break at work, engage in breathing practices