In the first week of September 2020, the Tirupati Municipal Corporation organised a first-of-its-kind free Yoga training programme to spread awareness and motivate locals to adopt healthy lifestyles. The programme, held in an open auditorium, had roped in professional yoga trainers to help the participants practice yoga to improve their health and boost immunity, a must especially during pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The Coronavirus outbreak has instilled fear in people. People have realised that it’s not possible to completely eliminate the risk of infection, and boosting one’s immunity is the only way ahead. Practising yoga is the best way to do so,” says Mumbai-based first-time yoga practitioner and restauranteur Manish Shetty. “My family and I have been religiously following two things since the lockdown was implemented: practising yoga and drinking the kadha ( a decoction made of herbs and spices) everyday,” he sums up.
India`s ancient connection with Yoga
India’s connection with yoga is since time immemorial. Yoga is believed to have existed since the beginning of the civilisation. Archaeological evidence from Indus Valley civilisation revealed figures performing yoga postures and yogic motives indicating the presence of yoga in ancient India.
Over centuries, yoga was relegated to specific communities and groups and more recently to a select few yoga teachers. “It’s sad how people forget their own roots. Yoga was something that retired, old individuals would do to pass time. It’s only now that Indians are realising the true potential of the science of yoga and that it’s a way of living for mental and physical well-being,” says Chennai-based Yoga teacher T Subramanian.
Yoga has a global appeal
“It won’t be wrong to say that for a better part of the last century, it was the interest from foreigners that kept the practice of yoga alive in India. Like me, there are thousands of individuals who came to India to learn Yoga and take the practice back to their countries,” says Russian Yoga practitioner Anna Ivanov who came to Kerala in 2008 to learn Yoga.
When India banned 118 mobile apps with Chinese links in September 2020, including PUBG, citing threat to national security owing to data privacy concerns, the Chinese retort was a first. China criticised India’s decision and cited its openness in accepting Yoga, Tagore and Indian movies.
The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by PM Narendra Modi during his speech on 27 September 2014 at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). On 21 June 2015, the First International Day of Yoga was celebrated that witnessed people from 192 nations from across the world enthusiastically celebrating the day. Since then, every year, yoga enthusiasts around the world gather to spread awareness about yoga and its benefits.
Modern-living challenges here to stay
Modern-day living is fraught with stress, particularly in urban settings. Life in the city may be technologically advanced and fast but also stressful and challenging. New work cultures including work-from-home, flexible work hours and excessive travelling are posing a series of new physical and mental health challenges. The health challenges of the present generation are too many to be ignored. “When I started working for the first time in 2010, I had a fixed ten to five routine. It would get mundane and boring sometimes but at least there was a routine and hence some sort of discipline in my life,” says 35-year-old Pune-based software engineer Nupur Kamat. “I switched a few jobs… the company that I work for now has flexible hours including a work-from-home arrangement. It was exciting in the beginning, but the absence of a ‘routine’ adversely affected my health.”
Staying indoors for long hours, following an uncertain routine and having to bear with a disrupted sleep cycle led to Nupur “developing unhealthy eating habits” because of increased stress and eventually multiple health complications such as insomnia, recurring back-pain, hormonal imbalance and anxiety.
“I don’t remember the first time I developed numbness in my right arm. I didn’t realise the severity of the situation nor could I pinpoint the cause,” says Lucknow-based UPSC aspirant Deepti Chowdhary. “But suddenly one day I lost all sensation in the arm and developed a pain in my right shoulder. The doctor said sitting long hours in an incorrect posture and very less physical activity aggravated the situation.” The numbness increased so much that Deepti had to take a break from her UPSC preparations and rethink her plans. She says, “I realised a healthy body is more important than anything else. How will I do anything in life, forget UPSC, if I am not physically fit?”
Yoga to the rescue
Both Nupur and Deepti got tired of taking painkillers and other pills that were just treating the symptoms and leading to side-effects like acidity, skin rash, etc. “I knew I had to stop this”, says Nupur who took to Yoga on the advice of a friend and “never looked back”.
“I started seeing a difference in my general health and mental state almost immediately. When you do Yoga, you are in sync with nature and your body automatically rejects things that are harmful to you. My eating habits went on to improve immensely and I developed a positive state of mind. I love the new me!” says an excited Nupur.
Deepti, on the other hand, started practising yoga with her father. She says, “My father has been practising yoga since he was a child. He inspired me to start practising and I saw the results almost immediately. I was so happy that I began working on my life plans with a new vigour.”
Yoga’s true potential remains untapped
Yoga is an art and a science. Its benefits are mental, physical and spiritual. Yoga’s holistic approach means it brings harmony in all aspects of life. One of the most significant effects of yoga is that it helps in alleviating and managing stress. Yoga is effective in prevention as well as management of stress and stress-induced disorders.
Yoga is effective in treating lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc. India is known as the diabetes capital of the world. Yoga asanas help in controlling Diabetes Mellitus i.e Type II diabetes.
Yoga asanas, pranayam and meditation improve overall health. Pranayam helps in improving immunity and in treating sinus problems, nasal allergy, cough, sneezing, etc. Pranayam and meditation are extremely effective in reducing mental stress, anxiety, etc. Meditation also helps in improving pulmonary functions and other chronic conditions.
In November 2014, the Ministry of AYUSH mentored a scheme for yoga professionals ‘to get certified for their competence’ to be a Certified Yoga Professional for providing yoga lessons/ classes.
Yoga’s increasing popularity and growing acceptance among Indians of all ages is a welcome trend to keep India healthy and fit!