We are all concerned about the well-being of our body and mind. Medical science testifies that many of our diseases are due to the disharmony between body and mind. There are many socio-cultural and religious practices across the globes that target the holistic health of an individual. Yoga is one such popular practice. We celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Yoga is an ancient art. With a strong spiritual and meditative core, yoga offers a variety of physical exercises that lead to both physical and psychological well-being. The word ‘Yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, which means ‘to join’ or ‘to unite’, thus signifying the union of body and consciousness. This physical, mental and spiritual practice originated in India thousands of years ago. However, Yoga became popular all over the world only in the 20th century. Today, people practice yoga in various forms around the world irrespective of cultural and religious boundaries.
The UN has recognized Yoga’s universal appeal and has initiated measures to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising Yoga. The theme for the 2018 celebration is ‘Yoga for Peace’.
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