International Yoga Day, celebrated annually on June 21st, holds great significance as it promotes the profound benefits of yoga for individuals and communities worldwide. This observance serves as a powerful reminder of the holistic nature of yoga, encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Yoga, an ancient practice originating from India, offers a path to cultivate inner harmony, balance, and peace. It encourages the integration of mind, body, and spirit, fostering a deeper connection with oneself and the surrounding world.

Before digging deep into the layers of Yoga, let’s first understand how it contributes to strengthening the core of the body. Yoga is best known for its ability to target and engage the muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis, collectively referred to as the core. Developing a strong core through yoga practice is fundamental for overall stability, balance, and maintaining proper posture.

Let’s understand it more through the words of Babli Rajput a Yoga Trainer in Cult Fit and Rugby Referee, “Yoga is a very good tool to access for improving the strength in your abs and back. You may think of yoga classes as slow and meditative or involving fluid movements from pose to pose. But there are individual yoga postures you can practice stimulating the energy, growth, and strength in your core.

Yoga is fantastic for strengthening your core because the poses work for multiple muscle groups in these areas. If you’re new to yoga, you might be surprised to find that your core muscles are a bit sore after your workout. Some of the best poses for core strengthening include: Navasana (Boat Pose), Dolphin pose, Chakrasana, Virbhadrasana, Chatursavasana, Kakasana, Lolasana, Tula-asana, Vishwaamitra-asana and many more.”

Also, Yoga is known for its amazing effects on the mind. It is a holistic practice that nurtures mental well-being through physical postures, breath control, meditation, and mindfulness. Dr. Himanshu Nirvan, Psychiatrist, Noida Institute of Medical Sciences (NIIMS) says that “Regular yoga practice may have a tremendous impact on the mind, fostering emotional harmony and mental health. Yoga helps to promote mindfulness and improves self-awareness by integrating physical postures, breath control, and meditation. It has been demonstrated to lessen tension, anxiety, and depression, enabling people to experience inner tranquility and calm. Yoga creates a mind-body connection that promotes harmony, which enhances concentration, mental clarity, and general mental fortitude. A key strategy for preserving mental health and developing inner tranquility is incorporating yoga into one’s regimen.”

Indeed! Through the regular practice of yoga, individuals can cultivate a sense of inner peace, balance, and overall well-being for the mind. But, yoga is not just limited to physical and mental well-being; it also serves as a pathway towards spirituality. By embracing the spiritual dimensions of yoga, individuals can embark on a transformative journey that transcends the physical and mental realms, opening doors to higher consciousness and self-realisation.

Neha Aneja, The Yoga Expert and Founder of Yoga Niyama expresses the connection between spirituality and yoga with her recent quote. She says, “Patanjali, a great spiritual teacher, defined yoga in his yoga sutras as ‘yogah chitta vritti nirodha,’ which translates to reaching a state where there are no fluctuations of the mind.

In today’s world, yoga is often seen primarily as a physical practice, focusing on asanas. However, it encompasses much more than that. Yoga serves as a stepping stone to spiritual consciousness. It not only enhances physical strength but also cultivates selflessness and nurtures mental and emotional balance in challenging situations. These qualities enable us to embark on the spiritual path.”

Yoga is beautiful! It awakens a profound sense of interconnectedness with our innermost selves and the vast universe. As we celebrate International Yoga Day, let us embrace the transformative power of yoga to live a life of overall well-being and peace. Because yoga is a light that once lit will never dim, the better your practice, the brighter your flame.