International Day of Yoga
Saturday, June 20, 2020
With Covid-19 rampaging across the world, infecting millions of people, we are all holed up in our homes and inevitably becoming couch potatoes.
It is not completely our fault, since we hardly move around nowadays because of all the restrictions and as the saying goes, ‘I am not hungry. But I am bored. Therefore, I shall eat.’ So, we all are busy emptying the fridge here.
But, we do have to go out at some point in the future and we have to stay fit and healthy. Now, I know what you are thinking, we don’t need another thing to add to our list of worries. But staying healthy is an absolute necessity.
Well, there is an opportunity for you to get started on exercising, because International Day of Yoga is right around the corner.
International Day of Yoga has been celebrated since 2015 on June 21st. But this year, things are a bit different. This year’s theme for the International Day of Yoga is…………Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family. This theme is absolutely appropriate since we really can’t go out to get exercise or Yoga classes and whatnot with these social distancing measures in place.
So, first of all, what is Yoga? Well, the first thing that may come into your mind when you hear the word ‘Yoga’ will be people executing weird flexible postures on a mat. But, in reality, Yoga is more than that. It helps us calm our body, mind and soul. It helps us to completely relax and focus.
Yoga has many benefits. It helps us improve our concentration and also tone our body. While during asanas, our body becomes more flexible and agile. It also enables us to improve our posture.
Yoga can do wonders for our soul and mind. It calms us down and empties our mind of all thoughts. We are able to concentrate completely on one thing. It also improves our memory.
It can change a person completely. It can help us control our temper and be more calm and collected.
Yoga consists of several asanas like Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Adho Mukho Svanasana, Trikonasana, Kursiasana, Naukasana and Bhujangasana.
Reading these names might give you a gigantic headache, but in reality all these complicated words simply mean Mountain Pose, Tree Pose, Downward Facing Dog Pose, Triangle Pose, Chair Pose, Boat Pose and Cobra Pose.
Besides, Yoga also has its roots in India. In fact, it is one of the six Astika (orthodox) schools of Hindu philosophical traditions.
In the wake of learning all of this, I was dying to try it out. So, in between the holidays, when I was bored out of my mind, I started waking up at the crack of dawn (yawn) and performing one of the most basic steps in Yoga, Surya Namaskar.
I could really feel the changes in my life. I could tolerate my annoying siblings for a lot longer than before and even built up more stamina. And, it was also soo relaxing.
Well, what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to gear up and learn a new activity like Yoga.
So, you can’t use the excuse that you don’t have enough time. Get ready with all of your Yoga mats and make it a daily habit from now on.
“Yoga does not transform the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”
-B.K.S. Iyengar
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