37 Million People Connected in US through Yoga

On the occasion of the seventh International Day of Yoga on Monday June 21, 2021, the US State Department has reported that Yoga, the ancient discipline with origin s in India connects people around the world, including over 37 million people from the United States. Taking to Twitter, the US State Department said: “Happy #InternationalDayOfYoga! The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or unite. This ancient discipline from India connects people around the world, including over 37 million people in the United States who practice yoga.”

The International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on June 21 across the country. This year, the theme of the occasion is ‘Yoga For Wellness’, and will focus on practicing Yoga for physical and mental well-being. Since 2014, the occasion has been observed in mass gatherings in different parts of the country. The observation of IDY is a global activity and the preparatory activities normally start 3-4 months prior to June 21. Millions of people are introduced to Yoga in the spirit of a mass movement as part of IDY observation every year, especially since 2015, a year after the Prime Minister suggested the day at the United Nations.

On the occasion, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President VolkanBozkir said that yoga was a lifeline during the COVID-19 lockdown as it helps to maintain physical wellbeing and manage the stress of uncertainty and isolation. “The COVID 19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the consequences of poor global health, the social and economic consequences have been devastating for many around the world. Yoga was a lifeline during lockdown,” Bozkir said in a statement on Monday. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in the United States on Sunday celebrated the IDY 2021 at the India House, with the theme “Yoga for Wellness”.

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti on Monday stressed on practicing Yoga for physical and mental well-being on the occasion of the seventh International Day of Yoga. “Yoga has particularly emerged as a powerful tool to reduce the impact of stress and help with anxiety and depression during the pandemic,” said Tirumurti. Back home in India, “Yoga has provided a ray of hope to the people across the world amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, June 21, 2021, on the occasion of the 7th International Yoga Day.

“Yoga is a ray of hope amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the enthusiasm for Yoga has only increased over the last two years,” he said while addressing the 7th International Day of Yoga (IDY). “When the invisible virus of Corona had struck the world, then no country was prepared for it, by any means, be it strength, in the form of resources or mentally,” Modi said, adding, “We all have seen that in such difficult times, yoga became a great medium of self-confidence.”

The Prime Minister further elaborated on how practicing Yoga has helped healthcare and frontline workers protect not just themselves from the coronavirus, but also helped their patients. “When I spoke to frontline warriors and doctors, they tell me that they’ve made Yoga a protective shield against the virus. They have used Yoga not just for safeguarding themselves, but also for patients,” he said. “There are pictures of hospitals, with doctors, nurses teaching Yoga performing breathing exercises,” PM Modi said. “Today, while the whole world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga remains a ray of hope. For two years now, no public event has been organized in India or the world, but enthusiasm for Yoga has not gone down,” PM Modi said.

Noting that whenever India and its sages spoken of health, Modi said it has not only meant physical health. “That is why so much emphasis has been laid on physical health as well as mental health in Yoga. Yoga shows us the way from stress to strength and from negativity to creativity. Yoga takes us from depression to ecstasy and from ecstasy to ‘prasad’.”

The Prime Minister mentioned if there are threats to humanity, Yoga often gives us a way of holistic health. “Yoga also gives us a happier way of life. I am sure, Yoga will continue playing its preventive, as well as promotive role in healthcare of masses.”

When India proposed the International Day of Yoga in the United Nations, the Prime Minister said it was the spirit behind it to make this science of Yoga accessible to the whole world.
Today, Modi announced that India has taken another important step in this direction along with the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

“Now the world is going to get the power of M-Yoga app. In this app, many videos of yoga training will be available in different languages of the world based on the Common Yoga Protocol.” The seventh International Yoga Day is being celebrated in 190 countries across the globe on Monday. The theme for this year is ‘Yoga for wellness’.