What is International Day of Yoga?
Celebrated on June 21, International Day of Yoga, or as it is commonly known, Yoga Day, recognizes the ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India, called Yoga. International Day of Yoga, proclaimed by the United Nations in 2014, aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. It was first proposed by India in 2014, where it was ratified by a record 175 nations.
Ancient Origins
Yoga can be traced back within India’s ancient culture more than 5,000 years ago, and is now practiced worldwide. First mentioned in the Rig Veda, an ancient Hindu text, yoga was refined and developed by sages and documented for thousands of years. The Rig Veda is the earliest amongst the vedas and is a collection of over a thousand hymns and mantras in ten chapters known as mandalas, which were used by Vedic age priests.
While practicing different asanas or postures in yoga, rhythmic chants known as mantras are generally recited. In yoga, mantras are typically chanted in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit word mantra is derived from the root word “man”, meaning “to think,” and tra (from trai) meaning “to free from the mind.” The earliest mantras were composed in Vedic Sanskrit in India, and are at least 3,000 years old. The sounds “Aum” or “Om” are some of the most basic mantras.
Modern Applications
The beauty of yoga is that people of different ages and socio-economic status can practice it because of the vast wealth of information available online. Furthermore, yoga is a great way to avoid the hecticness of modern day-to-day life that leaves little room for self-care. Doing yoga for even 10 minutes a day can help improve one’s body, mind, and spirit. Here are 3 yoga poses you can do within the comfort of your own home!
- Child’s Pose
Simply kneel on the floor or on a cushion, and lower your torso down, resting it between your thighs. Then, rest your forehead on the ground and extend your arms, all while taking slow, deep breaths. Remember to adjust to how your body feels!
- Cobra Pose
This back-bending pose can help strengthen the back muscles, increase spinal flexibility and stretches the chest, shoulders and abdomen. Simply lay down with the stomach on the ground, and push yourself up with your hands.
- Sleeping Pose
Simply lay down on your back, and soak in the silence around you. (Pillows are recommended for this one!)
UNESCO BMW Involvement
UNESCO Body Mind Wellness Club actively works to bring peace of mind through different techniques of meditation and self-introspection. A non-profit organization, UNESCO BMW promotes numerous self-care programs of nature walks, guided meditations, and yoga sessions on both the regional and national level. Join us in a multitude of workshops to understand the benefits of yoga and keep a healthy body, mind, and spirit!
UNESCO BMW Vision
Our mission encompasses three main goals that are also in line with this occasion today and engage people of all ages, especially the youth-improvement of the inner ecosystem, enhancement of inner creativity through arts and crafts and lastly, encouragement of inner peace on a global level.
By Advait Guje
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