If we can recall our memories, Yoga, the most ancient Indian wisdom, has become highly popular and reached every home and individual worldwide after the first International Day of Yoga International Day of Yoga ((IDY-2015) celebration subsequent to the United Nations General Assembly resolution in the year 2014 to celebrate IDY on June 21st every year. Thanks to the Government of India and, in particular, to our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a true Yogi who has taken the initiative with the objective of ensuring Health, Happiness and Harmony through Yoga to one and all.
As many have understood, Yoga is not merely a practice of different body postures, stretching of different parts of the body, gymnastics, and a kind of physical exercise. Yoga is a holistic way of life, an art of living, a science of life for harmony and peace.
The problems of the present-day society and, in particular, the youth are improper lifestyle, addiction to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, substance abuse, lack of nationalism and patriotism, divorce culture, running behind money and luxuries, addiction to work, gambling and casinos, corruption and nepotism, gun culture in the schools, colleges and universities are becoming the order and fashion of the day.
These vice and borrowed cultures kill the human resource of the society in every aspect, which in turn influences the socio-economic conditions and development of the society and also results in many psychosomatic disorders like Diabetes, Hypertension, Sleep disorders, Degenerative diseases, Autoimmune disorders etc., which make people a liability for the family and society.
What is the solution for these problems, and how to prevent and manage these menaces? It is possible to bring a change in society through the proper addressing of Yoga, which focuses on the Integrative management of the physical, physiological, psychological, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of an individual. If people are made disciplined and cultured automatically, the community and society become stable and harmonious.
Modern science, even though it has reached its zenith in understanding the human body to the minute level of cells, genes, energy pockets, several chemicals etc., has not been able to provide total cure and prevention of many Psychosomatic diseases and disorders and social evils. It is because modern science considers the human system as a machine based on the theory of matter-based and reductionistic approaches. Contrary to this, Yoga philosophy considers human life as an integrative manifestation of body, mind and consciousness based on the theory of Knowledge and totality.
Many research studies have shown as to how Yoga is effective in preventing and reducing stress, the root cause of many Psychosomatic diseases and disorders, in improving the quality of life among elders and diseased, in improving the quality and duration of sleep, in overcoming different addictions, promotion of positive health, improving the cognitive functions of people with different age groups, improving general immunity against different types of infections including the COVID-19.
Among the school children, regular Yoga practice has shown improvement in their IQ level. Studies have shown that Yoga has very good effect on the management of Breast Cancer, Hypertension, Joints disorders, migraines, Pre and Postmenstrual disorders, Degenerative diseases, Anxiety, Depression, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc.
Based on the research findings of Yoga on IQ of school children by SVYASA, Deemed to be University, the Government of India and many State Governments have introduced Yoga as a subject in primary education. While introducing NEP-2020, Yoga has been made a compulsory subject in higher education. Beyond one’s imagination, the corporate and private sectors have been supporting for promotion and propagation of Yoga in their own fields.
