Mumbai, 21st June, 2022: The Eighth Edition of the International Day of Yoga 2022 was celebrated by the internationally-acclaimed The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, at Marine Drive on 21st June, 2022.The institute organised The Yoga by the Bay under the august presence of Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra- renowned Yoga Guru and Director of The Yoga Institute, the world’s most prestigious, over 100-year-old institute. With more than 10,000 participants Yoga by the Bay was widely popular and eagerly received by all the participants and was an iconic sight to watch at Marine Drive. The reach and resonance of the event left many looking forward to the next edition of the event and other events conducted by The Yoga Institute.
In addition to the Yoga by the Bay event, The Yoga Institute also conducted over 500 simultaneous events globally, benefitting millions of participants, as part of the International Day of Yoga celebrations. The scale and coverage of the events were both exhaustive and extensive. The event at Raj Bhavan was also graced by the Hon Governor, shri Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Other notable events that were a part of the 500 events were conducted at Mumbai International Airport, Arthur Road Jail, BMC schools and hospitals, ONGC etc. The corporate participants were led by SBI.
Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra, said, “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient traditions. It embodies an unity of mind and body; of thought and action; of restraint and fulfilment. It is a holistic approach to health, well-being and mindfulness. It is not simply about physical exercise; it is the discovery of our own path. Yoga is the discovery of oneness with yourself, the discovery of contentment and a sense of purpose within you. The Yoga Institute has been committed to the aim of sharing these invaluable insights with ordinary people through our Householder’s Yoga Movement. That has been our legacy for more than a hundred years now. And that will be our effort for more than a hundred years from now. Yoga for all, yoga in every home!”
The objective of celebrating the International Day of Yoga was to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Over the years, The International Day of Yoga has evolved into one of the largest public health initiatives taken by Government of India. It is different from other public health initiatives because it has taken the form of a mass movement.
The Ministry of AYUSH has been reviving the profound knowledge of our ancient systems of medicine and ensuring the optimal development and propagation of various systems of healthcare including Yoga. The Ministry’s initiatives have greatly increased the popularity and awareness about Yoga. At the Ministry’s behest, on the International Day of Yoga, practitioners of Yoga have come together in Yoga demonstrations and practice Yoga through a standardized set of practices called ‘Common Yoga Protocol’. These Yoga practices are a good starting point for beginners to get inducted into the highly rewarding world of Yoga. Irrespective of age, gender, race and other distinctions, they are guided about how and when Yoga asanas are to be performed for attaining maximum health benefits.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Yoga across the globe, is ‘Yoga for Humanity’, as announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Yoga promotes the collective quest of humanity for sustainable lifestyles in harmony with planet Earth. All around the world, people have embraced yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated and to fight social isolation and depression especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been proven that Yoga helps to boost the immune system and helps people to stay energetic. Yoga also plays an important role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation by allaying their fears and anxiety.
The Yoga Institute was established in 1918 by legendary Yoga Guru Shri Yogendraji, also known as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance, and celebrated its centenary milestone on 25 December 2018. The 100 years’ celebration was attended by Shri Ramnath Kovind – The President of India and M. Venkaiah Naidu – The Vice President of India. It is a non-profit organization and the oldest organized centre for Yoga in the world.
Recognizing the philanthropic work done under Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra’s guidance, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, felicitated The Yoga Institute with the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development in 2018-19 Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra has also been honoured with the Bharat Gaurav Award at the UK House of Commons in British Parliament in London for extraordinary contribution to, and excellence in, the field of yoga.
The Institute has a long legacy of carrying out ground-breaking work in the field of yoga, including the “householder yoga” movement, along with several social initiatives such as Annam Brahma (free meals for the underprivileged), free medical health camps, blood donation drive, military, and police holistic health programs, municipal and western railway staff wellness programs and much more.
