International Yoga Day

On June 21st, the annual International Yoga Day is celebrated to raise worldwide awareness of the benefits this exercise can bring. This year, it is the 7th time the Day has been commemorated since Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the idea.

His proposal was made during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly in which he spoke about the great importance of Yoga for both culture and health. “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being,” said the Prime Minister. The World Health Organization considered his words and encouraged member states to motivate the citizens to increase physical activity, therefore preventing numerous diseases caused by lack of movement.

Currently, Yoga is being continuously endorsed as a way of combating the psychological and physical consequences of the global pandemic. Due to the major lockdowns occurring around the world, the promotion of physical and mental well-being is essential. Therefore Yoga Day is a great asset to help fight the global situation.

Although Yoga is now applied worldwide, its origins can be traced back to northern India over 5,000 years ago. The term “yoga” derives from the Sanskrit word “unite”, which symbolizes the union of the body and consciousness. The first time it was used was in ancient sacred texts called the Rig Veda. Yoga is a part of the six schools of philosophy in Hinduism and also an important part of Buddhism’s mediation practices.

Yoga is focused on breathing, flexibility, and the improvement of mental welfare. Breathing exercises and poses are the key components of yoga that boost the physical state. As one practices yoga, the chanting or silent repetition of mantras is used to penetrate the deep unconscious mind. In ancient times, this was believed to stimulate the energy centers known as chakras that lay along the spine.

In our school, a Meditation Club was created as a CAS project and many Year 5 students got the chance to practice this exercise. We interviewed one student to share his experience in the club, and his thoughts on yoga and meditation. After being asked a series of questions, here are the answers:

Was it helpful to learn about meditation?

Interviewee A: “It was very useful since I consider that meditation is something very important and that it is not usually taught.”

Interviewee B: " In most of the classes we did a brief research on different meditations and their benefits, and then we practiced some meditation in relation to what we had found. Therefore, we not only looked for it on the internet but we had the opportunity to do the exercises ourselves and feel the experience of meditating. It helped me to know the benefits and relevant information of meditation since I know when is the best time to practice it or in what environment to do it, etc. Now having practiced it with my classmates, I know that it is very good to meditate in the moments that have more stress or tension."

How has learning about meditation helped you?

Interviewee A: “The truth is that this course helped me a lot to understand what meditation is and how to apply it.”

Interviewee B: "It was very helpful to learn about meditation as I now know that it doesn't take much time to do a meditation. You can do a short meditation session, and it still helps you de-stress. It was also good to learn that there are different types of meditation and that each has its benefits."

When do you apply meditation in your life?

Interviewee A: “I like to apply meditation on days that I am very stressed because of a test or presentation.”

Interviewee B: "Meditation can be done at any time of the day, however, the atmosphere is better in the morning or at sunset. I practice meditation sometimes in the afternoon when I feel a lot of stress due to school and it helps me a lot."

What kinds of exercises do you do when you meditate?

Interviewee A: “I usually lie on my bed and listen to a relaxation podcast.”

Interviewee B: "When I meditate I do some guided meditation on the internet. The exercises that are normally included in these are: feeling my breath, feeling my body to let it relax, sitting or lying down in a comfortable position, I have also done meditation on the move from time to time, etc."

Bibliography

BBC Staff (2021, June 21) International Day of Yoga: Muted celebrations due to Covid-19. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57550009

Deslippe, P. (2019, June 20) Yoga Landed in the U.S. Way Earlier Than You'd Think—And Fitness Was Not the Point [Photograph] History. https://www.history.com/news/yoga-vivekananda-america

N.A. (n.d.) Explore The Ancient Roots of Yoga. Google Arts & Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/explore-the-ancient-roots-of-yoga/rAKCRDl92CPuJg

United Nations (n.d.) International Yoga Day. United Nations https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day

Upham, B. (n.d.) Yoga 101: The Poses, the Types, the Health Benefits, and if You’re a Beginner, How to Get Started on the Mat [Photograph] Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/yoga/

Wikipedia Authors (n.d.) International Yoga Day [Photograph] Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Yoga

Yoga Baron (n.d.) 101 Popular Yoga Poses for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Yogis. Yoga Baron. https://www.yogabaron.com/yoga-poses