Experts say breathing exercises like Pranayama and Anulom-Vilom strengthen our respiratory system
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Yoga remains a ray of hope in the Covid-hit world
“Today, when the whole world is combating the coronavirus disease pandemic, Yoga remains a ray of hope,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the occasion of the 7th International Day of Yoga.
Yoga has proved to be a source of strength and poise for people during difficult times, he said, adding it was easy for countries to forget Yoga Day during the pandemic as it is not intrinsic to their culture but, instead, enthusiasm for Yoga has increased globally.
“One of key ingredients of yoga is fortitude in the face of adversity. When the pandemic appeared, no one was ready from the point of view of capabilities, resources or mental toughness,” the Prime Minister said.
Yoga helped people to muster confidence and strength to fight with the pandemic world over, Prime Minister Modi added.
The Prime Minister also launched the mYoga app that will be available worldwide.
“In collaboration with the WHO, India has taken another important step. We will be launching the mYoga app which will have yoga training videos in different languages for people across the world. This will help us achieve our ‘One World, One Health’ motto,” he said during his address.
This year, the theme is ‘Yoga For Wellness’. Elaborating on it, PM Modi said that yoga has raised the morale of people and he wished for the health of every country, society and individual and hoped that we will be united and will strengthen each other.
The Prime Minister recalled how frontline Corona warriors made Yoga their shield and made themselves strong through yoga and how people, doctors and nurses took to Yoga to deal with the effects of the virus. He said experts are stressing the importance of breathing exercises like pranayama and anulom-vilom for strengthening our respiratory system.
Quoting Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar, the Prime Minister said Yoga goes to the root cause of disease and is instrumental in healing. He expressed satisfaction that globally, research is being conducted in the healing properties of Yoga.
Further, he noted studies on immunity through Yoga and children doing Yoga during their online classes. He said this is preparing children to fight Corona.
The Prime Minister emphasized the holistic nature of Yoga and said that it takes care of physical health as well as mental health. Yoga brings us in touch with our inner strength and protects us from all sorts of negativities.
Stressing on the positivity of Yoga, the Prime Minister said “The shift from silos to union is Yoga. A proven way to experience a realisation of oneness is Yoga.” In this regard he quoted Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore "the meaning of our self is not to be found in its separateness from God and others, but in the ceaseless realization of yoga, of union."
The idea of International Day of Yoga was conceived by PM Modi, who proposed the concept on September 27, 2014, during his speech at the UN General Assembly.
The resolution to adopt June 21 as International Yoga Day was introduced in the UN by India’s Ambassador, Ashoke Kumar Mukerji. The resolution had received support from 177 nations, the highest number of co-sponsors for any UN Resolution.
