International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21. This event will include the celebration of the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga all over the world. Millions of people are joining this event and practicing yoga daily as it is an important source of healthy activity and exercise. It will help you to connect with your body, mind, and soul which is a tradition of centuries.
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History of International Yoga Day
People around the world are preparing to exercise on their yoga mats for International Yoga Day. However many people do not know that there is a long history of yoga. It is an ancient practice that started in India over 5,000 years ago. Yoga grew further as a way to connect the body, mind, and soul to move towards enlightenment. As it became popular in the West, it was promoted as a form of exercise and relaxation that could also help you with chronic pain and physical injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi first proposed the idea of International Yoga Day on September 27, 2014, at the time of his speech at the UN General Assembly. India’s ambassador namely Asoke Kumar Mukerji then suggested a resolution to mark June 21 as International Yoga Day.
June 21 was then chosen as International Yoga Day as it is the Summer Solstice. It means that this is the day in the year when you will get maximum sunshine. This idea got the support from 177 countries, and the most number of sponsors were from UN resolutions. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015, in New Delhi, with nearly the participation of 36,000 people, including Prime Minister Modi and many other political leaders. Since then, countries all over the world have been celebrating this day.
Importance of the International Yoga Day
Before you understand the International Yoga Day 2024 event, it is important to know why it is celebrated all over the world. The United Nations established this day in 2014 to promote yoga as a holistic way to stay healthy. In 2024, the International Yoga Day event aims to show how yoga can help you achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.
Themes of International Yoga Day
Theme of International Yoga Day 2021
The theme for Yoga Day in 2021 was “Yoga for well-being.” This theme highlighted how yoga is beneficial for your health. As 2021 was the year of the pandemic, people across the world recognized the importance of this theme for individuals and communities.
Theme of International Yoga Day 2022
Every year, International Yoga Day has a new theme. People celebrate and talk about yoga locally, nationally, and globally based on the theme. Since June 21 became World Yoga Day, schools, groups, and companies have organized events to raise awareness about yoga as an exercise. The theme for International Yoga Day was “Yoga for Humanity” in 2022.
Theme of International Yoga Day 2023
International Yoga Day was celebrated with the theme “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” in 2023. It means ‘one earth, one family, one future.’ This theme highlights how doing yoga regularly will help the well-being of every person without any discrimination.
Event Details for International Yoga Day 2024
- Date: June 21, 2024
- Venue: Multiple Locations and Online
- Organized By: SDG Resources
Why is Yoga Celebrated Only on 21st June?
International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on 21st June to raise awareness about the advantages of yoga and meditation around the world. This date is chosen because it is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere when the day is the longest and nature’s energies are believed to be aligned perfectly. It is an international event that is promoting the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of yoga practice.
Activities of International Yoga Day
- Take Your Tree Pose Outdoors: If you practice yoga outdoors, it will refresh your poses. You can try practicing it on the beach, in a park, or even in your backyard. When you do it in a new environment, you can make your practice more interesting along with new things to focus on.
- Try Some “Om” Chanting: Make your own flow of movements and try them with your favorite music. A change in how you move or the music will help you focus on your energy and match your breathing with the music’s rhythm perfectly.
- Invite a Friend to Try the Yogi Lifestyle: When you invite a friend to join, it will give you the right motivation to improve your yoga practice. Their presence will inspire you to do better poses, and they can also get huge free yoga deals for new students.
Why Do People Love International Yoga Day?
Here are some of the reasons why people love International Yoga Day.
- It Includes Everyone: Yoga is made for everyone no matter what your age, religion, nationality, or social background. There are many types of yoga practices thus anyone can start at any time. Your size and fitness level do not matter at all as there are modifications for every pose and beginner classes in every style.
- Yoga Helps You Reduce Stress: Sometimes, life can be stressful and it can affect your physical body. If you have back or neck pain, trouble sleeping, or headaches, yoga can help you to deal with them. Regular yoga practice will clear your mind, bring calmness, and reduce chronic stress, which will help you to improve all of the above issues.
- Yoga Practice is Healthy: There is no surprise in this but it is worth mentioning again. Yoga will strengthen and stabilize your spine which will further help you to reduce back pain, stress, anxiety, and tension. It will also help you in weight loss, maintaining a healthy metabolism, and improving flexibility. And these are just a few of its benefits.
Conclusion
International Yoga Day 2024 is a reminder of how yoga will benefit your bodies and minds. This year, the focus is on how yoga will help in reaching the United Nations’ goals for a better world. People worldwide are practicing yoga together and showing how it can bring peace and health. International Yoga Day focuses on bringing people together as one big family, no matter where they are from.
