Why is International Yoga Day celebrated on June 21?

Find out about the history and origins of Yoga and how International Yoga Day came to be celebrated.

The International Yoga Day is the brainchild of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who first proposed the idea during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014. Given the historical context as well as the universal appeal of yoga, Modi suggested that a special day should be dedicated in order to celebrate the values and significance of yoga and promote its holistic practice worldwide.

As a result, on December 11th, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared June 21st as International Yoga Day. The inaugural celebration took place on June 21, 2015.

Since then, the International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on June 21 with much enthusiasm and excitement. The International Yoga Day seeks to promote the physical, mental, as well as the spiritual benefits that come from practising yoga regularly.

Attempts are made to raise awareness among people, especially the youth as well as senior citizens, in order to inculcate yoga into their lives. It also encourages the people around the world to look towards yoga as a meditative practice to incorporate into their busy schedules.

Yoga has its origins in ancient India and this discipline is grounded in mindfulness. It combines physical postures and poses along with mindful breathing exercises and meditation in order to promote overall health and mental well-being of an individual. It offers a holistic approach to health, fostering harmony between the body, mind, and spirit.

Regular practice of yoga can help people to slow down and stay in the moment, avoid stress, improve quality of life, maintain a healthy posture, gain mental clarity and experience greater strength, balance and flexibility.

Yoga, as a practice, has been passed down through generations and its roots are traced to the Indus Valley civilization around 3000 BC. Ancient Indian scriptures known as the Vedas, which contain hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings talked about yoga and the word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means to unite or join.

This joining refers to the union of the mind, body, and spirit in a collective harmony. Yoga aims to achieve harmony and balance by integrating physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), meditation (dhyana), and ethical principles (yamas and niyamas).

Yoga saw an upsurge in popularity in the modern age after various gurus and teachers travelled around the world promoting the benefits of yoga in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, and B.K.S. Iyengar were among the influential figures who played a crucial role in introducing yoga to the Western world.

In the 21^st century, yoga has become a global phenomenon which is practiced by millions around the world.