International Day of Yoga 2020

HEADLINES:

AYUSH Ministry gears up for International Day of Yoga 2020 with the “Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family” campaign.

WHY IN NEWS:

To facilitate this, the Ministry of AYUSH is organising a trainer-led session which will be telecasted on Doordarshan on 21^st June at 6:30AM for people to follow and practice in solidarity.

MINISTRY? :- Ministry of AYUSH

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:International Celebrations : UN

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS it is important to understand the meaning of the theme this year and why we celebrate ! Let us not forget Resolution too .

For MAINS well we have mentioned all the benefits below . Let us dive in 🙂

ISSUE:

In context of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, slowdown in daily activities and restrictions on the movement of people, this year’s observance of International Day of Yoga will aim to highlight the health-building and stress-relieving aspects of Yoga.

FOCUS :

The trend that has emerged for observation of IDY is to focus on its health- rewards and to do Yoga at home on Yoga Day.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Hence the observation of IDY has become a search for good health and peace of mind.
The 45-minute Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is one of the most popular Yoga programmes across the world.

THEME :

The Ministry of AYUSH is supporting this trend by promoting the THEME- “Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family” .

WHAT IS YOGA ?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.
The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
It is designed to be easily adoptable by the majority of the people irrespective of their age and gender .
Yoga is a powerful tool to deal with the stress of uncertaintly and isolation.
These benefits include increased flexibility and fitness, mindfulness and relaxation.

YOGA AND COVID-19 :

During these distress times public can gain from Yoga:

a) Positive impact on general health and immunity enhancement, and

b) Its globally accepted role as a stress buster.

The United Nations offers yoga resources to its personnel and others on the Coronavirus portal’s section on Wellness.

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE IT?

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by RESOLUTION 69/131.

RESOLUTION NOTED

“The importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.”

RATIFICATION :

The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

PROPOSED BY :

The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly.

“Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition.-Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”
But yoga is more than a physical activity.

IASbhai WINDUP:

“Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”-B. K. S. Iyengar

The World Health Organization mentions yoga as a means to improve health in its Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world.

SUGGESTED READING : https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day

SOURCES: PIB | International Day of Yoga 2020 | UPSC

DISCOVER MORE : Important UN Celebrations

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