The United Nations designated June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014.
Yoga students practice in front of the 2014 General Assembly of the United Nations
There’s an International Day of Yoga that’s designed to help people around the world understand just how good yoga can be for both physical and mental well-being.
The idea came from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who proposed it at the UN General Assembly. The resolution ended up getting support from 175 member countries – apparently that was a record number.
In his explanation of how he emphasized that yoga isn’t just exercise – it’s about finding unity between mind and body and developing a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.
The UN resolution supporting this day highlights something we’re all dealing with – the need to make healthier lifestyle choices. The World Health Organization has been pretty vocal about how physical inactivity is actually one of the top ten causes of death worldwide and a major factor in diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. That sounds like a reality check.
In the words of one of its most famous practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar:
“Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”
It’s pretty remarkable how this ancient practice continues to offer relevant solutions for modern problems.