International Yoga Day: Significance of Yoga on This Day

June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day. On this day, we recognize some of the life-changing benefits of the ancient Indian practice of yoga. In 2021, we celebrated the 7th annual International Yoga Day.

In this article, we provide you with the emergence of International Yoga Day, why this is celebrated, and the reason behind June 21 as an International Yoga Day. Further, our yoga experts carved out previous International Yoga Day themes for you. Also, check out the significance of Yoga. Read on.

Emergence of International Yoga Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the celebration of ‘Yoga Day’ on 27 September 2014. He delivered a speech at UN General Assembly when the first idea of International Yoga Day came into existence.

After the first draft, the idea of this day was further propelled by 177 members of the United Nations. With that, the first International Yoga Day came into emergence on June 21, 2015. After that, it is regularly observed every year with a different theme.

Why Observe International Yoga Day?

The question arises – what was the need to celebrate International Yoga Day? Which reason led to accepting this day to signify yoga as important? Well, for that, give the following points a quick read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech quoted the following. After the speech, the idea was accepted. Hence, the following points highlight the need to accept yoga into the routine.

The art of yoga came from the ancient Indian tradition.
It signifies the bond between mind and body along with thoughts and actions.
Further, yoga signifies the harmony between humans and nature.
Hence, yoga is a holistic approach to healthy well-being.
Yoga helps in the discovery of a sense of oneness with nature and yourself.
From changing lifestyles to raising your consciousness, it comes a long way.

Thus, all the points were mentioned in his speech led to the acceptance of International Yoga Day.

International Yoga Day: June 21

Why do we observe only June 21 as an International Yoga Day? Why any other day was not chosen for this?

June 21 is the longest day in the Summer Cosmic time. That was the primary reason to take this day as International Yoga Day.

Themes of International Yoga Day Till Now

Let’s go through previous yoga themes for International Yoga Day. This will give an idea about what goes against the backdrop of practicing yoga.

In 2015, ‘Yoga for Harmony and Peace’ was the theme.
2016 witnessed ‘Yoga for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals’ as an International Yoga Day theme.
In the following year (2017), ‘Yoga for Health’ came into emergence.
In 2018, ‘Yoga for Peace’ was the central idea.
‘Yoga for Heart’ was in 2019.
2020 came up with ‘Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family’ was the major theme for the day.

Significance of Yoga

Here are a few points to learn about the significance of yoga. Go through them to enhance your overall yoga knowledge.

Practicing yoga targets your mind and its connection with your body.
With consistent practice, you get a stronger and more flexible body.
You get a sharp mind that improves your muscle memory.
Pranayama exercises boost your body’s internal systems.
Meditation practice soothes your mental connections and mechanisms.
Supplementing yoga practice in your life enhances your overall living experience.
It keeps mental and physical ailments at bay.
In short, practicing yoga works in every dimension of your life.

Sum Up

As you can see, various reasons lead to the celebration of International Yoga Day. You should also learn about various elements of yoga for better understanding. With the right knowledge and consistent effort, you become a proficient yoga practitioner over time.