1. WORLD YOGA DAY | 21ST JUNE | A JOURNEY TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self”.   - Bhagvad Gita -

Yoga (YOG IN HINDI): Physical, mental and spiritual practices.

Yoga is one of six schools of orthodox Hindu philosophy. It is a spiritual discipline as well as a science. It is the heritage of India. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yug’ which means ‘to add’, ‘to join’, ‘to unite’ or ‘to attach’. Thus, Yoga is union of mind, body and soul. It involves physical, mental and spiritual practices.

History of Yog

The history of Yog dates back to around 5000 years. The Indus Valley Civilisation is the suggested origin of Yoga as many seals, including the Pashupati seal, depict figures sitting in Yoga positions. The word Yog finds mention in the Rigveda for the first time. Yog, however, developed in 5th and 6th century BCE.

Initially Yoga lessons and teachings were transferred orally. They were compiled by Patanjali in 1st century CE in the name of ‘Yoga Sutras’. ‘Yoga Sutras’ is the most credited source of Yoga; therefore Patanjali is known as the Father of Yog.

Different types of Yog

There are various types of Yoga: Hatha Yog, Asthanga Yog, Classical Yog, Bikraw Yog, Iyengar Yog, Power Yog, Kundalini Yog etc. Yog has been evolving, therefore many more types of Yog are available today as compared to the past.

How Vivekananda Spreads Yog in the West

The West was introduced to Yog by Swami Vivekanand during his Chicago visit in 1893, when he talked of Raja Yoga. After this, many Yog gurus contributed to the spread of Yog in the West. Today the popularity of Yog in the West is such that about 75% of the fitness centres of America offer Yog in their courses. The credit for increasing the popularity of Yog in India and of making the teachings of Yog available to every person goes to Baba Ramdev. Yog Guru Baba Ramdev used the medium of television and newspapers to reach out to the general public and made his lessons available to them.

Idea of India Prime Minister about Yog Day Celebration

the spread of the message of Yog to the world was done by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Modi proposed the idea of World Yoga Day in his speech during an address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, which was accepted by the assembly.

World Yoga Day: 21st June

The proposal of India for International Yoga Day got a huge support of 177 UN members out of 193. 21st June was chosen as the World yog day as it is the longest day in the Northern hemisphere, and holds special significance for many countries. Mythologically, summer solstice (21st June) holds importance in the field of Yoga as it is the day when Adi Yog (Lord Shiva, the first Yogi) taught Yog for the first time.

Role of Baba Ramdev in Publicizing Yog

Baba Ramdev has made significant strides in rejuvenating traditional education in India by establishing University of Patanjali located at Haridwar, Uttarakhand in 2006. The university aims at innovating, teaching-learning and research to produce professionally competent, personally elevated and socially empathetic alumni.

How Yog Benefits Life of Millions

Yoga is considered a sadhana i.e. a disciplined and dedicated practice. It is a science with many benefits for humanity. It is not related to any particular religion. Yoga can be very useful to people who practice it. Yog is seen as a complete workout. It purifies both the mind and body. Yog through Pranayam and meditation provides many psychological benefits. It helps in stress management, better concentration and focus, besides increasing self-awareness, thus helping in bringing inner peace. Yog is not a form of physical exercise only as commonly understood today. Yog is a way of life. It is not a course to be completed within a specific period, it is a journey of self-development.

How are Children Benefited by Yog

Yog offers a wide range of benefits for children, contributing to their physical, mental, and emotional development. Incorporating yoga into a child’s routine can provide them with tools to navigate the challenges of growing up, fostering a balanced and healthy development.

Here are some of the key benefits

 Physical Benefits:

• Improves Flexibility and Strength: Yog poses help children develop flexibility and strength in their muscles, which is important for their overall physical development.
• Enhances Balance and Coordination: Many yog poses require balance and coordination, helping children improve these skills.
• Supports Posture and Alignment: Yog encourages proper posture and alignment, which can help prevent common issues like slouching and back pain.
• Promotes Healthy Habits: Practicing yog can instill a lifelong habit of physical activity and health awareness.

 Mental Benefits

• Boosts Concentration and Focus: Yog involves mindful movement and breathing exercises that can enhance children’s ability to concentrate and focus.
• Enhances Cognitive Function: The practice of yog can stimulate brain function, improving memory, attention, and learning capabilities.
• Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Yog teaches children how to relax and manage stress, which can be particularly beneficial in today’s fast-paced and pressure-filled environments.
• Improves Sleep: The relaxation techniques learned in yog can help children sleep better by calming the mind and body before bedtime.

Emotional Benefits

• Builds Self-Esteem and Confidence: Successfully practicing yog poses can boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence in their abilities.
• Encourages Emotional Regulation: Yog helps children understand and manage their emotions, leading to better emotional regulation and stability.
• Promotes Mindfulness and Awareness: Through mindfulness practices, children become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, fostering emotional intelligence.

Social Benefits

• Enhances Social Skills: Group yog classes can help children develop social skills, such as cooperation, communication, and teamwork.
•  Fosters a Sense of Community: Participating in yog with others can create a sense of belonging and community, which is important for social development.

Behavioral Benefits

• Improves Discipline and Self-Control: The structured nature of yog practice can teach children discipline and self-control.
• Encourages Positive Behavior: Yog promotes a calm and focused mindset, which can lead to more positive behavior at home and in school.

 Specific Practices and Techniques for Children of Yog

1.Breathing Exercises (Pranayama): Simple breathing techniques can help children relax and focus.

2. Child-Friendly Poses: Adapted yog poses like Tree Pose, Cat-Cow, and Butterfly are fun and engaging for children.

3. Mindfulness Activities: Activities such as guided imagery, body scans, and mindful listening help children practice mindfulness.

4. Yoga Games and Stories: Integrating yog into games and storytelling makes it enjoyable and relatable for children.

Role of Yog in Disease Prevention

Today many of us are under the threat of lifestyle diseases. Such diseases can be cured by following a good lifestyle. Yog helps in this. It also helps in emotion management by people, provides a proper routine for life and enhances awareness about the body. Yog heightens mindfulness in people which is essential for controlling lifestyle diseases.

How Yog Improves Quality of Life

Yog includes Pranayam and Kapal Bhati which are one of the best and effective breathing exercises. Yog is a therapy which helps getting rid of illnesses slowly if practised on regular basis. It makes some positive changes to the internal body and regularise the body organs functioning. There is specific yog for different purposes so only required ones can be practised.

Conclusion

Yog brings holistic development. It helps people to engage in life purposefully, reduce sufferings and bring joy for living. It helps us in maintaining a harmonious life. It gives us a good lifestyle. It can reduce our health expenses with least investment. It can today act as both preventer and controller of disease and hence improves the quality of life. Citing the importance of Yog, UNESCO in 2016 also listed Yog as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.