About international yoga day
I have never imagined that one day can transform my life. However, that is what International Yoga Day did to me. It was not merely an experiment with a new stretch, but it was instead a journey toward a calmer and stronger me. Wondering what this day is really all about not just the head lines, then I can tell you about my experience and why I think this day can also be a new beginning to you.
More than a global event, International Yoga Day, which is celebrated on June 21 st, is not an ordinary event. For me, it was an invitation. It is a day that screams off the rooftops that yoga is open to everybody, it is open to all body types, all ages, all levels of fitness. My personal experience has begun with a simple question: What’s all the fuss about. What I discovered was a habit that not only changed my mornings, but my whole kind of attitude.
What Is International Yoga Day, What?
I used to look at the photographs–thousands of people in parks, striking poses in unison–and I will say this, I was a little intimidated. I thought, “That’s not for me. I can’t even touch my toes!” But I also learnt that the International Yoga Day is not about performance. It’s about participation.
This day is officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 2014, and the purpose of it is to make the global community aware of the numerous advantages of yoga practice. June 21 st is the summer solstice which is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and represents light and the rebirth. To me, it represents an individual new year, an opportunity to renew my purpose towards my health and my well-being.
Why I fell in Love with Yoga (And Why You may, too)
My encounter with the Yoga Day began at home in the living room with a free online course. I was skeptical. However, as I went through the postures and concentrated on the breathing, something fell into place. The gunfire in my head was softened. The gains I have personally enjoyed are the reasons why I am now so much a believer:
Mental Clarity: I had a feeling that my mind was a browser with 50 tabs open. Yoga also enabled me to shut them down, one at a time, with breathwork and concentration.
Physical Strength: I was shocked that I had muscles that I did not even know I had! There is no need to be the most flexible, but rather enjoy strength within when it comes inside to outside.
Stress Relief: This was the revolutionary game. Even five minutes of mindfulness breathing can seem like a system restart on stressful days.
Improved Sleep: I swapped half an hour of scrolling at the end of the day with a brief and easy yoga practice. The quality of my sleep dramatically improved.
My Celebration of International Yoga Day Now.
There is no need of a fancy mat or costly leggings to join. This is the most beautiful day because it is convenient. This is how my International Yoga Day would look now and how you can come on board and do it with great ease:
Locate a Local Event: Check your local studio, community center or park. On this day, many of them provide free courses. The group practice is highly energizing.
Go Virtual: There are so many organizations that stream events live and in case you are shy or even busy like I used to, you can do so. You are able to join the world community at the comfort of your couch.
Set up a Home Practice: Set up your mat and spend 20 minutes with yourself. Follow a video tutorial on YouTube as a beginner. The initial meeting lasted only 15 minutes!
Pay attention to the Theme: Every year, there is a subject of the International Yoga Day, such as Yoga to Humanity or Yoga to Well-Being. I employ the use of this theme to create a purpose to my practice which makes it more significant.
My Simple Starter Pose: Finding my Foundation.
I recall that I felt lost in complicated pose names. Therefore, I would like to tell you about the pose that became my anchor Mountain Pose (Tadasana).
It appears as though you are simply standing there but it is the basis of all standing poses. Here’s how I do it:
I am with my feet hip-width apart I am grounded in the floor with all parts of my feet.
I press my thighs tenderly and pull my stomach button a little.
I shrug my shoulders behind and down, unbuttoning my chest.
I gulp in and thrust my head crown to the sky.
Breathing 5-10 times, I simply meditate that I am here and that I am strong.
This is one of the lessons that yoga is about being there and nothing else.
Beyond the Mat: The Ripple Effect in my Life.
It was the greatest transformation that took place not on the mat. It was the way the yoga tenets had trickled into my life. I was able to be more tolerant in traffic. I began paying more attention when people were talking. I realized that I was sitting my way up at my desk. This meditative movement is also the actual present of International Yoga Day-it is an invitation to remember that the calmness that we develop inside ourselves can be expanded to the world.
Your Invitation Awaits
June 21 st is your ideal international yoga day to begin. It is a wave of good energy all over the world, and you are welcomed to jump on it. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present. This day marked the first step I made on a path to a healthier, happier me, and that it was just a curious step. Your mat is there to find out what you do.
FAQs in a Nutshell: Your questions, my answers.
Q: I’m not flexible at all. Can I still do yoga?
A: This was my biggest hurdle! What I mean to say is that yoga is not about being bendy. It’s about becoming flexible. Every body is different. Begin where you are, make props and work on how it feels and not how it looks.
Q: What do I need to get started?
A: Well, a dry floor and a non-slip one would be enough. I began with a towel on my carpet. Gear This is a wonderful investment in the future but do not use this as an excuse to wait to begin.