Power to the world

Mona

In 2014, on the day of summer solstice, the longest day of the year, in one of the busiest places on earth, the Times Square, yoga enthusiasts gathered from around the world over celebrating ‘mind’ over ‘madness’. If the recently declared International day of Yoga by the UN on June 21 last year is anything to go by, we can see a follow up of it all over the globe in the coming year… Yoga is as much for well-sculpted women in tight clothes as for men. Iyengar, Bikram—both ‘men’ have found their surname tagged to ‘yoga’. All you need to practice it is a small stretch of place and a mat. Why yoga? We can refer back to our Prime Minster’s speech,

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.” Initiated in the United Nations General Assembly in September with an overwhelming support, The United Nations formally adopted June 21 as the ‘International Day of Yoga’ in mid-December. We all know its 5,000 years old tradition and have seen yoga practitioners around practicing it at the crack of dawn.

Shriya Verma is a 25-year-old corporate girl, who wouldn’t let the mad working hours mess her early morning routine. “I picked-up yoga when I was studying in the university and it has sailed me through the studies, job interviews, personal ups and downs and more.”

Nidhi Mahajan, a mother of two, afflicted with some cervical problem, took to yoga and benefited. Buoyed by the results, she pushed her husband Yogesh Mahajan, an entrepreneur, till he accompanied her to the class and a year on, they kept their date with their yoga teacher come what may. “Yoga didn’t only bring my health back on track but its benefits touch all walks of life,” shares Nidhi.

Mamta Sharma, a dentist from Sector 41, learnt yoga along with her mother-in-law last summer from the Government College of Yoga Education & Health-23 and have been an avid follower. “It was rather tough getting up early and reaching the class at 5:30 in the morning but it is worth every effort we made.”

Having a day dedicated to yoga has made its practitioners happy and they hope that more people can derive benefit from it. Meenakshi Sood, a yoga teacher, nails it, “Yoga means balance. Following it whatever we undertake; we are able to work fabulously well.”