When we hear the word ‘Yoga’, we probably imagine a yogi - a person who is skilled in yoga- in some ashram or a yoga trainer instructing some weird yoga poses to a bunch of health enthusiasts or one can also imagine someone trying to learn yoga through a random YouTube video.
It is commonly understood as a therapy or exercise system for health and fitness. Everybody has conviction about yoga practices towards the preservation, maintenance and promotion of health.
While physical and mental health are natural consequences of yoga, the goal of yoga is more far-reaching. Yoga is about harmonising oneself with the universe. It is the technology of aligning individual geometry with the cosmic, to achieve the highest level of perception and harmony.
This ancient Vedic wisdom, understood and reformulated in this scientific age has been identified as a single, universal source of all orderliness in nature and a practical and scientifically validated procedure to apply for the benefit of mankind.
Yoga philosophy is a part of and has been mentioned multiple times in the Vedas, is an art and science of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. The science of yoga has its origin thousands of years ago, long before the first religions or belief systems were born. In the yogic lore, Shiva is seen as the first yogi or Adiyogi, and the first Guru or Adi Guru.
Now in the contemporary times, Yoga has spread all over the world by the teachings of great personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Krishnamacharya, Sri Aurobindo, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, and the like.
As Yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind, emotion and energy, this has given rise to four broad classifications of Yoga: karma yoga, where we utilise the body; bhakti yoga, where we utilize the emotions; gyana yoga, where we utilise the mind and intellect; and kriya yoga, where we utilise the energy.
The widely practiced Yoga Sadhanas (Practices) are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana (Meditation), Samadhi /Samyama, Bandhas & Mudras, Shat-karmas, Yukta-ahara, Yukta karma, Mantra japa, etc. Yama's are restraints and Niyama's are observances.
These are considered to be pre-requisites for the Yoga Sadhanas (Practices). Asanas, capable of bringing about stability of body and mind ‘kuryat-tad-asanam-sthairyam’ , consist of adopting various body (psycho-physical) patterns, giving ability to maintain a body position (a stable awareness of one’s structural existence) for a considerable length and period of time as well. The use of pranayama and breathing techniques prescribed in Yoga enables a person to focus on breath and helps to calm and still the mind and cultivate concentration ability.
Yoga mobilizes joints, stretch tissues and ligaments, tone muscles, bring flexibility to the spine, increases muscle coordination and fluidity of movement in an individual. It positively contributes to the health and vitality of the body, strengthens internal organs, increases circulation, boosts immunity and promotes overall well-being. It also reduces stress, anxiety; cultivate self-confidence and self-belief much required in today's modern life.
Yoga does not adhere to any particular religion, belief system or community. Due to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi's relentless efforts, June 21 was declared as the International Yoga Day by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014 and thenceforward every year, millions of people from around 84 countries observe the International Yoga Day, also known as International Day of Yoga (IDY) or World Yoga Day, on this date.
In Guwahati, IDY is celebrated every year with much enthusiasm by different institutions, agencies and organisations. Various activities like yoga sessions, workshop on yoga, pledge taking, poem writing, poster making and quiz competitions are organised to promote yoga, accentuating the benefits it offers for overall well-being. Besides this, Guwahati successfully hosted major Yoga Mahotsav, exhibitions in various schools and educational institutions encouraging the younger generation to practice yoga, inspiring them to embark on the journey of physical and mental wellness.
With the theme of ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’, over again Guwahati, with elsewhere in the world is all set to celebrate International Yoga Day 2024 or IDY 2024 on 21 June 2024. By aiming to utilize Yoga as a potential tool for women’s empowerment, the theme carries multifarious significance promoting the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of women, manage the overall health issues of women, fostering self-awareness and self-acceptance, which can boost confidence and self-esteem in women, empowering women to pursue their goals and aspirations.
Yoga truly is one of the many ways India contributes to making the world a better place, a place with healthy, content people who step up for the collective good of humanity, eliminating war and strife, promoting harmony and universal brotherhood.