Yoga for Humanity - 2022 International Day of Yoga | United Nations

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented human tragedy. Beyond its
immediate impact on the physical health, the pandemic also exacerbated psychological
suffering and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, as pandemic related restrictions were introduced in various forms in many countries. It highlighted
the need to address the mental health dimension of the pandemic, in addition to the
physical health aspects.
Yoga lecture & demonstration on the North Lawn of the United Nations Headquarters.

#yoga #yogaday

In keeping with the spirit of promoting a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with planet Earth, the 8th International Yoga Day celebration took place today (20 Jun) at UN Headquarters.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Yoga for Humanity.”

The UN recognizes the ancient practice as a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and a powerful tool for dealing with the myriad stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instructor Sam Chase from Isha Yoga said, “the word yoga means union. Yoga is about being in an experience in which you and the rest of the existence are not separate things. Now, if you do the yoga practices, definitely these benefits will come, you will become more mentally balanced, you will become physically healthy. But it's a little bit like driving an airplane around on the streets. Yes, you can use it as a bus if you want, but yoga has the potential to take you into the sky.”

This year’s International Day celebration, organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, marks the return to an in-person observance, after two years of online events because of the pandemic.

Kishore Chandra from Bhakti Center said, “being disciplined has its payoffs and being undisciplined has its effects and its consequences. And you realize that, you know. And so, I think what yoga gives is that it gives us tools to make that discipline something pleasurable, actually. Because people hear the word discipline and they think, oh, this is going to be boring, or this is going to be too intense. I can't handle it. But yoga in all of its different Asana, meditations, pranayama, etcetera, it actually gives something that makes this discipline attractive and pleasurable and good for you.”

Kali Morse, from the Integral Yoga Institute highlighted the importance of yoga for dealing with mental illness.

Morse said, “we have to breathe to be alive. But being aware of the breath and taking deep breaths, I think when you have mental illness, the breath is everything. When anxiety is prevalent, when fear is prevalent, then return your awareness to the breath to deep breathe, and also movement. Of course, Hatha Yoga, is the yoga of movement. So, moving your body and being aware of the breath at the same time, I think could really serve people who are struggling with mental illness.”

Recognizing yoga’s universal appeal and its benefits, The United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the annual International Day of Yoga in 2014.

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