The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by the current Prime Minister of India, Mr.

Narendra Modi during

his speech at the UNGA, on 27 September 2014. He stated :

Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and
fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to
discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating
consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.
— Narendra Modi, UN General Assembly

The origins of yoga are shrouded in mystery and mythology while some historians find many clues in the practices of
Himalayan Shamans as still be seen in Tibet and Nepal. The Lord considered the father of ancient yoga while some
historian claims that Patanjali is the father of modern yoga.

By the 5th century, BC yoga was becoming well known and begun to appear in Vedic Scripture. The word Yoga is a
Sanskrit word and it comes from the root word Yuja which basically means to bind to align to hold.

Following this initial proposal, the UNGA held informal consultations on the draft resolution entitled "International Day of
Yoga", on 14 October 2014. The consultations were convened by the delegation of India.

In Dehradun, the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is going to participate in the 2018 edition being organised in FRI
Dehradun. Dehradun is one of the most refreshing and highly educated city as per Dehradun's biggest twitter
account Dehradun Live. The event will witness a gathering of around 60000 people. Registration to the event is free.
Dehradun Tourism is known for valleys and pleasant climate. Festival tourism is quite unexplored in India but online travel
companies like Travelwhistle is promoting Indian Festivals worldwide. Prime Minister has been taking very keen interest
right from the time when the first International Yoga Day took place and the PM participated in it at Rajpath.
The ultimate goal of Yoga is moksha (liberation), although the exact definition of what form this takes depends on the
philosophical or theological system with which it is conjugated.
According to Jacobsen, "Yoga has five principal meanings:

1. Yoga, as a disciplined method for attaining a goal;

2. Yoga, as techniques of controlling the body and the mind;
3. Yoga, as a name of one of the schools or systems of philosophy (darśana);
4. Yoga, in connection with other words, such as "hatha-, mantra-, and laya-," referring to traditions specialising in
particular techniques of yoga;
5. Yoga, as the goal of Yoga practice."
According to David Gordon White, from the 5th century CE onward, the core principles of "yoga" were more or less in
place, and variations of these principles developed in various forms over time:

1. Yoga, is a meditative means of discovering dysfunctional perception and cognition, as well as overcoming it for
release from suffering, inner peace and salvation; illustration of this principle is found in Hindu texts such as
the Bhagavad Gita and Yogasutras, in a number of Buddhist Mahāyāna works, as well as Jain text;
2. Yoga, as the raising and expansion of consciousness from oneself to being coextensive with everyone and
everything; these are discussed in sources such as in Hinduism Vedic literature and its Epic Mahābhārata, Jainism
Praśamaratiprakarana, and Buddhist Nikaya texts;
3. Yoga, as a path to omniscience and enlightened consciousness enabling one to comprehend the impermanent
(illusive, delusive) and permanent (true, transcendent) reality; examples are found in
Hinduism Nyaya and Vaisesika school texts as well as Buddhism Mādhyamaka texts, but in different ways;
4. Yoga, as a technique for entering into other bodies, generating multiple bodies, and the attainment of other
supernatural accomplishments; these are, states White, described in Tantric literature of Hinduism and Buddhism,
as well as the Buddhist Sāmaññaphalasutta;[35] James Mallinson, however, disagrees and suggests that such
fringe practices are far removed from the mainstream Yoga's goal as meditation-driven means to liberation in
Indian religions.
“Exercises are like prose, whereas yoga is the poetry of movements. Once you understand the grammar of yoga; you can
write your poetry of movements.” ― Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style
Derived from the Sanskrit word, yuj, yoga literally means the union of the individual consciousness with the universal
consciousness. Much more than just a physical exercise, Yoga is a fascinating science of discovering the immortal
potential of the mind and soul of the mortal human being. People twist, stretch, turn and breathe in complex ways, yes,
but that is only the most superficial layer of yoga, beneath which lies an enormous body of knowledge. It is said that “You
cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are
resisting your natural state.”
Despite its origins to pre-Vedic Indian traditions, the benefits of this 5000-year old science have never been more evident.
In a world that is fraught with stress, miseries, pressures and constant mental and physical struggles, the human mind has
become immune to an array of perilsboth mental and physical. In such a context, embracing yoga is like breathing fresh
air into the prisons of one’s mind and body.
Its benefits are truly endless. All-round fitness, weight loss, stress relief, inner peace, improved immunity, living with
greater awareness, more fulfilling relationships, increased productivity, are just some of the many advantages of
practicing yoga. What is even more fascinating about this profound art is that it has the potential to improve one’s intuitive
abilities. One effortlessly realizes what needs to be done, and is seamlessly able to meet their potential.
Despite all this and much more that it offers, the true purpose of yoga is to unite the body, mind and breath. When these
three are in harmony, the journey through life is a more pleasurable, calmer and fulfilling one.
Simply reading or hearing about the magical effects of yoga, however, can make you somewhat incredulous. That’s why,
to actually experience its magic, you need to do it yourself, and see yourself transform into a truly self-actualized human
being. What one needs to remain cognizant of is that yoga, far from being a crash course for thinness, is a continuous
process. The deeper you delve, the more satiated you’ll be.
You could be a homemaker, a sportsperson, an entrepreneur, a student or a domestic worker; all you need to allow yoga
to unleash its celestial bliss on you, is the intent and will. You don’t need any expensive equipment or an air-conditioned
room to practice yoga. A little space out in the open, a small yoga mat, and you’re set! So, for a truly healthy and fulfilling
life, take to the divine way of life that yoga is, right away.
Yoga, an art that traces its origins in Ancient India, has now become a truly universal phenomenon. As a result of India’s
initiative, the United Nations unanimously declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, last year. "The resolution was
passed within a record time of 75 days and was the first resolution in which 177 countries had become co-sponsors," said
a union minister.
The development, far from being an isolated one, is evidence of the growing relevance of Yoga internationally. As stress
levels, violence, pressures, and environmental degradation, continue to increasingly cause mental and physical
exhaustion among individuals globally, ordinary people, as well as, state governments, are taking cognizance of the
crucial role that yoga can play to improve a person’s mental and physical health.
The most recent example of the rising Yoga fever is the coming together of a group of United States lawmakers and hill
staff to form the first ever, and one-of-its kind, ‘Congressional Yogi Association’. A Congressman from Ohio stated that
one of the most urgent problems confronting Americans is extremely high levels of stress. “I have found that mindfulness
and the practice of Yoga help to reduce stress, improve concentration, and increase feelings of well-being,” he added.
The ‘Congressional Yogi Association’ website hits the nail on the head by stating, “Yoga transcends political ideologies,
inviting all those who wish to practice to come to the mat and enjoy the benefits a Yoga practice can provide.”
Yoga sees no manmade fences. It embraces within its nurturing fold, anyone who seeks it. While it may be odd to imagine
Yoga as a uniting political force among different countries, the unanimous acquiescence of the United Nations General
Assembly to declare an International Yoga Day, is being seen as a robust step towards an unusual universal amicability.
Mysore, a city known as a Yoga hub, would be celebrating the International Yoga Festival from September 11 to 13. At
least 100 international Yoga experts are expected to participate in this festival, alongside practitioners of the discipline
from across India.
Part of the reason for Yoga’s increased global importance is the ease with which it can be practiced. As is often said, the
individual does not need to adapt to Yoga, Yoga adapts itself to the individual. You may be a young student, a middle-
aged homemaker, a CEO, an expecting mother, or an octogenarian; yoga will adapt itself in order to serve you best.
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