Yoga is a millennial physical, mental and spiritual practice It originated in India and has spread all over the world.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means union, the union of body and consciousness.
Since 2015, the UN celebrates the International Yoga Day every June 21 with the intention of highlighting the benefits of this practice in health and well-being in general, in addition to its potential in the search for a conscious lifestyle to address intelligently the great challenges of humanity.
This year, when it is celebrated for the eighth time, the motto of the day is “Yoga for humanity” and highlights this practice as a path to sustainable living.
To mark the day, the UN held an outdoor event last night at its New York facilities, whose program included a yoga class in which delegates and staff of the Organization participated.
holistic approach
Opening the activities, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, noted that as the COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives and livelihoods, and triggered an avalanche of anxiety and depression, “the practice of yoga serves as a holistic approach to physical, mental and spiritual well-being of humanity”.
Also present at the event, the permanent representative of India to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, noted that during the difficult times of the pandemic, millions of people have adopted the practice of yoga to stay healthy and overcome depression and anxiety.
“In addition, yoga can be an integral part of our strategy to a better rebuild”, said the diplomat.
can take you to the sky
For his part, Sam Chase, an instructor at the Isha Yoga Institute, stated that yoga tries to take the person to a state of mind in which the practitioner and the rest of existence are not separate things.
“If you practice yoga, these benefits will come, you will become more balanced mentally and you will become healthier physically. It’s a bit like flying a plane through the streets. You can use it as a bus if you want, but yoga has the potential to take you to heaven,” Chase told attendees at the event.
the international day
In 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as International Yoga Day.
The resolution underlines that global health is a long-term development goal which requires closer international cooperation through the exchange of practices aimed at building better individual lifestyles, free from excesses of all kinds.
The text also acknowledges that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and wellness.
“Improving global health is our long-term goal. Therefore, today’s celebration is also an opportunity to promote more sustainable lifestyles and a healthier outlook on life”, indicated the president of the General Assembly.
Practitioners believe that the essence of yoga is balance and, therefore, it can be an important instrument to promote a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with planet Earth.
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