Yoga Day : Uncovering the science of wellbeing

Yoga can bring transformation! The way we conduct our deeds, thoughts that we develop in mind, habits we infuse, and everything that that defines our existence can be transformed for betterment and wellbeing through Yoga.  Yoga, a 5000 year old science, is not just part of an ancient physical exercise but an amalgamation of mind, body and soul altogether.

Yoga is an English word, where as ‘Yog’ is the actual Sanskrit word, which means union. The great scholar and mystic, Sage (or scientist?!) Patanjali is the ‘father of Yoga’ and one who compiled the lineage of 195 Yogsutras formally, so that everyone can understand it in a simpler form. One of the oldest scriptures of the Human history the Rig Veda along with many following treatise like Shreemad Bhagvad Geeta clearly mentions Yoga as a discipline for living that one should inculcate.

Many people mistake Yoga as a religious practise, which is really a narrow aspect to observe something so pure. The real divinity lies within the calmness that you feel while performing it; the engagement which you realize happening between your physical self, mental self and the cosmic energies. It is a way to realise that whatever makes us or breaks us comes from nowhere but within.

India is the proud profounder of Yoga and on June 21, 2015 a historical event took place when 175 member countries of UN agreed to declare 21^st June to celebrate as World Yoga Day; a day when whole world believes in wellbeing, health, compassion, oneness and every other optimistic thought, emotion and deed in sync. India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi suggested June 21, 2014 to be celebrated as the world’s first International Yoga Day, as this day has a huge cosmic and spiritual influence.

For half the year the Northern Hemisphere is inclined toward the Sun, known as ‘Uttarayan’ while for the other half year the Southern Hemisphere has this distinction, known as ‘Dakshinayan’. The two moments when the inclination of Earth’s rotational axis has maximum effect are the Solstices. Northern solstice is the moment when the sun reaches its highest position with reference to the North Pole. Similarly Southern Solstice is the moment when, the sun reaches its highest position with reference to the South pole. This makes 21st June the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. In India these two events are known as ‘Makar Sankranti’ and ‘Kark Sankranti’ respectively. The yogic folklore suggests that these two celestial events have a strong bearing on earth and naturally the earthly beings. The June Solstice has the unique quality that augments the transformational potential of a being, hence June 21st as the International Day of Yoga.

In 2015, on the First International Day of Yoga  more than 2 million people celebrated this momentous day across the globe and this year the Ministry of AYSUH, Government Of India, that works exclusively towards conserving Indian heritage and cultural sciences has organized an event titled “The National Event of Mass Yoga Demonstration” at Chandigarh, which is expecting thousands of attendees including the Prime Minister of India. The movement is going global, on June 20 and 21 a special event has been organized at the UN headquarters in New York, where Shree Jaggi Vasudeva Sadhguru, founder of Isha Foundation, will be talking upon “Yoga for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

The globe is accepting, Yoga as the right path towards wellbeing and connecting oneself with nature, world and within. Today the Yoga day is celebrated by thousands at Times Square (NY), United Kingdom, Russia, Singapore, Australia, Lebanon, South Africa, China, Beirut, Sibiu, Canada, Dubai, Romania, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, Oman, Czech Republic, Malaysia and various other countries.

Team Creative Yatra is seeing this day as an auspicious experience and would request every single Man, Woman and Child to come forward and be a part of this human wellbeing revolution. CY shall celebrate Yoga Day by replacing its cover image with a doodled CY logo that promotes Yoga and peace.

Cover Image Graphic : Romanch Soni