Yoga for Well Being
yogena chittasya padena vacham malam sharirasya cha vaidyakena
With palms folded together, I bow respectfully to Patanjali, the best of sages,
yo ’pakarottam pravaram muninam patanjalim pranjalir anato ’smi
Who dispels the impurities of the mind with Yoga, of speech through Grammar,
and of the body by means of Medicine.
When you think of Yoga, you cannot but recall Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, compiled way back in 500 BC by the sage Patanjali.
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning to join or unite. It was first mentioned in the Rig Veda. Evidence of the practice of Yoga can be traced back to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization (5,000 years ago). Several seals and fossil remain of the Indus Saraswati valley civilization with Yogic motives and figures performing Yoga indicate the presence of Yoga in India. Yoga does not adhere to any religion, belief system or community. Yoga combines physical, mental, and spiritual practices and brings spiritual discipline based on a highly subtle science. It is to be approached as a technology for inner wellbeing.
Yoga is a symbol of universal aspiration for health and well being. It is health assurance in zero budget.
Narendra Modi
Speaking to UN General Assembly and setting the tone for adopting the resolution for “International Yoga Day”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, a holistic approach that is valuable to our health and wellbeing. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature.” UN adopted, with a record number of nations co-sponsoring the UN resolution to celebrate June 21 as “International Yoga Day”. The WHO mentions Yoga to improve health in its Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030: More active people for a healthier world.
Millions of people across the world are practising Yoga and are being benefitted. An estimate puts that more than 300 million people practice Yoga across the globe, with 72% of them being female. Japan has seen a phenomenal increase of 413% in yoga growth rate in just five years. Practising and teaching Yoga has become an industry and estimated worth more than $80 billion worldwide.
Yoga is a possibility that India offers to the rest of the world. Take charge of your health and wellbeing.
Sadhguru
While fighting the battle against the COVID epidemic, we need to keep ourselves strong both physically and mentally. Extended lockdowns, restrictions in movement and meeting people have added stress and anxiety, leading to impacting mental health. It is likely to last for a considerable time even after the pandemic subsides. Practising Yoga and meditation is our ammunition in our fight against the unprecedented health pandemic. The best part of Yoga is that you only need commitment and determination to practice. Rest is all with you.
June 21, what a day it is:
The Longest Day in the southern hemisphere.
International Yoga Day and World Music Day.
Toons: Anusha and Reema Jaiswal
Logs: Sai Baba
*A Toonlog on the topic written in the year 2020 (International Yoga Day)
