International Day of Yoga in Hindi is called ‘Antarashtriya Yog Divas,’ and this special day was first celebrated in 2015.
International Day of Yoga was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. In his address to the assembly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”
International Day of Yoga.org writes that Modi said choosing June 21, the Summer Solstice, as the date was intentional: “the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.”
Yoga saw huge growth in the US and Europe starting in the 80s/90s. It is now practiced all over the world, and it continues to get bigger each day. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) is known as the “Father of Modern Yoga” and is credited for popularizing it.
Yoga is such a beneficial system for the mind, body and spirit. It’s no wonder millions of people reap the benefits, whether it’s for calmness, spirituality, flexibility, concentration or awareness of breath.
My story
For me personally, yoga is not an industry, it’s a lifestyle. My mother was my first yoga teacher – she practiced yoga while I was in the womb. I started practicing with her when I got a bit older, and I began to feel and see the holistic benefits of yoga. Now, even as a yoga teacher, I realize that I am always a student. That is the beautiful thing about life: you will always be learning and growing.
So reap the benefits of yoga, and take advantage of this special day!
I hope you enjoy the special powers it provides – one day everyone under the sun will be practicing yoga…
