Adelmo Fernandes
The UN headquarters in New York is lit up with the word ‘Yoga’ for International Yoga Day 2017 which will be celebrated today June 21. This is the second consecutive year that the UN headquarters is celebrating the event.
Actor Anupam Kher will reportedly switch the illumination lights. Thousands of people around the globe will participate in Yoga Day 2017 events. Chinese officials reportedly claim it will be the second biggest celebrations of the day in the world after India. Several events are being organised across that country at numerous locations including the Great Wall of China. Over the years, yoga has become quite popular in China. Yoga has a lot to offer by way of weight loss, a strong and flexible body, glowing beautiful skin, peaceful mind, good health. However, very often, yoga is only partially understood as being limited to asanas (yoga poses). As such, its benefits are only perceived to be at the body level and we fail to realise the immense benefits yoga offers in uniting the body, mind and breath. When one is in harmony, the journey through life is calmer, happier and more fulfilling. Yoga has been India’s gift to the world.
Unfortunately over the years we Indians may have not taken up Yoga in a big way or have not given it the importance it deserves, as have several other western countries. However, it goes to the credit of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government at the Centre for making ‘Yoga Day’ a global phenomenon. “Catch them young” should be the mantra used to popularise yoga in school. It is seen that in western countries children are introduced to gymnastics as soon as they learn to walk and many go on to bring laurels for the county in the sport. It would thus be in the fitness of thing to introduce Yoga in school right at the primary level. It will instill the love for Yoga in young impressionable mind. This will go a long way to improve their physical and mental capabilities, which includes improving the level of concentration, which will ultimately reflect on their academic performance.
Competitions in Yoga could also be conducted in schools. The criteria for judging such competitions should be the degree of difficulty of the Asanas that are performed and the ease with which they are performed. Given the numerous benefits that Yoga provides it is essential to make it a way of life, just like we take a morning walk, jog in the park or go for a workout in the gym. There are several benefits in performing yoga which include all-round fitness, weight-loss, stress relief, inner-peace, improved immunity, increased energy among other. Yoga is vital for a healthy and happy life. The stretching involved while performing the various yoga postures results in an active body.
Yoga also gives peace of mind as the blood circulation and pulse becomes normal. It increases the flexibility of the body. Yoga exercise increases lubrication of the joints, ligaments, and tendons. Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder. Other advantages include complete detoxification and toning of the muscles.
