Yoga, an ancient mind and body practice that originated in India, was widely practiced across the globe for centuries. United Nations, though, recognised it officially only a few years ago.
21 जून ही क्यों चुना गया
भारतीय संस्कृति के अनुसार, ग्रीष्म संक्रांति के बाद सूर्य दक्षिणायन हो जाता है। 21 जून साल का सबसे बड़ा दिन माना जाता है। इस दिन सूर्य जल्दी उदय होता है और देर से ढलता है इसीलिए ही 21 जून को अंतरराष्ट्रीय योग दिवस मनाया जाता है।
कब से हुई शुरुआत
आज से छह साल पहले 2015 में पहली बार मनाया गया था।इस साल दुनिया छठा योग दिवस मना रही है। 11 दिसंबर 2014 को संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा ने 21 जून को अंतरराष्ट्रीय योग दिवस या विश्व योग दिवस के रूप में मनाए जाने को मान्यता दी थी। इस घोषणा के बाद अगले साल यानी 2015 से अंतरराष्ट्रीय योग दिवस पूरी दुनिया में मनाया जाने लगा था।
क्या है योग दिवस का महत्व
योग को प्राचीन भारतीय कला का एक प्रतीक माना जाता है. भारतीय योग को जीवन में सकारात्मकता और ऊर्जावान बनाए रखने के लिए महत्वपूर्ण मानते हैं। इस दिन को मनाने का उद्देश्य योग के प्रति लोगों में जागरुकता पैदा करने के साथ लोगों को तनावमुक्त करना भी है।
On December 11, 2014, UN-recognised its universal appeal and officially proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day following which the first International Yoga Day was celebrated across the world on June 21, 2015. The International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of practicing yoga.
The word ‘yoga,’ which is derived from Sanskrit, means to attach, join or unite. It symbolises the union of the individual self with supreme self. Yoga is mentioned in the Rigveda, an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. But in the present day, the knowledge of Yoga continues to spread with the popularity of celebrities and world leaders who practice yoga.
“Yoga is a precious gift given by ancient Indian sages to mankind. Yoga guarantees wellness as well as fitness. Yoga is not merely an exercise but a way to attain peace through physical, mental and spiritual well being.”– Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
“Through the practices of yoga, we discover that concern for the happiness and well being of others, including animals, must be an essential part of our own quest for happiness and well being. The fork can be a powerful weapon of mass destruction or a tool to create peace on Earth.” – Sharon Gannon
“A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves.” – T. Guillemets
“When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.”- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
“Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevent all men, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature of Spirit. “Yoga cannot know a barrier of East and West any more than does the healing and equitable light of the sun.” – Paramahansa Yogananda, Indian yogi
“Yoga is a way to freedom. By its constant practice, we can free ourselves from fear, anguish and loneliness.” – Indra Devi, Russian yoga teacher
“When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world.” — B.K.S. Iyengar, Indian yoga teacher
“You can enter yoga, or the path of yoga, only when you are totally frustrated with your own mind as it is. If you are still hoping that you can gain something through your mind, yoga is not for you.”- Osho
“Ashtanga yoga has completely changed me. I try to do it every day, and the effect is amazing. It’s not just during the hours that I’m practising. It’s about how it filters through into the rest of my life. It makes all the other bullshit dissipate. Who I am has emerged, and everything else has gone by the wayside.” — Actress Gwyneth Paltrow