Photo by Shashi Ch on Unsplash
Our Day of Yoga
Monday, June 21, 2021, marks the seventh annual International Day of Yoga. Proposed by India, this day was given its name by the United Nations in December 2014. The purpose behind it is to raise awareness of the benefits yoga has for our mental health and body. The word “yoga” is Sanskrit for yolk, to join together—as in joining the mind and body together.
This year the event will be featured live on UN WebTV from 8:30 a.m.–10 a.m. EST. Officials from the UN will speak which will be followed by a series of yoga poses. A panel will discuss the theme of this day: yoga and well-being. It’s important to emphasize that this day is not only about practicing poses together. Yoga goes beyond exercise and strength conditioning. One thing we do is meet our body where it’s at. We meet ourselves where we are by not pushing our body until we shake. And we do not stretch until something hurts just to mirror someone. Every body is different. Another thing we do is concentrate on being fully present during poses because this reminds us to be fully present with ourselves and others off the mat.
Behind Mindfulness
Being present means we are being aware, being mindful. When we are mindful, the fear part of our brain relaxes. Our breathing becomes more open and less caged. We have better control over our emotions. Our nervous system tells us “it’s okay.”
When we nurture mindfulness for ourselves, we subconsciously plant the seed of mindfulness for others. It’s the same idea as when someone is infectious with laughter, other people in the environment pick up on the energy that’s being put out there and also laugh. When we feel more at ease and less judgmental from practicing mindfulness, others will feel our new energy and may feel things differently, too.
This is another way of seeing yoga at work: one person’s energy yolks with others.
Meditation, another aspect of yoga, is also a great way to cultivate mindfulness before or after practicing traditional poses. What many aren’t aware of is that the poses are not the entirety of a yoga practice. Poses actually prepare those in other cultures before sitting in meditation for hours. For more on meditation, visit “Unveiling Meditation: Common Myths Explained and Types of Practice to Explore.”
When we move past the misconceptions of yoga only offering flexibility, yoga being a cardio workout, and that we must look a certain way in its practice, we find ourselves on a character-building journey. This character-building journey often leads to a life-building journey.
Teaching the Innocent
International Day of Yoga, like yoga itself, is open to everyone. This means that children can participate in Yoga Day. Though certain movements may differ from a traditional yoga class, the benefits are the same. By giving kids permission to explore belly breathing while standing or lying down, we give them permission to explore unconditional love for themselves.
Unconditional love starts with taking care of oneself. Moving and being gentle is key to this love. When we learn to love and take care of ourselves, especially at a young age, we’re more likely to be empathic and pass the empathy along in our family and society.
Practicing Yoga Any Day, Any Way
Even though International Day of Yoga is one day, we can make any day yoga day for ourselves. What this day really means is to make time for compassion. Instead of doing poses, we can put aside a few minutes to mindfully breathe, mindfully walk, or mindfully chew on something healthy. However we choose to use the term “yoga,” we are yolking our presence with mental health. Every small action we take towards being aware is to be one more person removing one more brick from a wall that holds peace out. We must keep taking action and removing our areas of the wall to keep the peace.
Resources Used:
United Nations Official Website
Community Series – Mental Health Book Club: What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
