Embracing Yoga: A Path to Global Health and Sustainability

As the International Day of Yoga approaches, Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, spoke about the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health,' emphasizing the profound link between personal well-being and planetary health. Celebrated on 21 June, this day honors a practice that benefits both body and soul.

The yoga celebration was suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2014, proposing the Summer Solstice as a symbolic date, leading to the inaugural event in 2015 supported by 177 member states. Wazed remarked on yoga's transformative journey towards inner peace, mindfulness, and a connection with nature's rhythm.

Wazed added that, in an environmentally challenged world, yoga promotes sustainability through simple living and mindful consumption, contributing to a reduced ecological footprint. Clean natural resources, she noted, are crucial for human health. Evidence highlights yoga's physical and mental benefits, with studies showing notable improvements in strength, inflammation, and mental health.

(With inputs from agencies.)