International Yoga Day 2024

What is Yoga and why do we celebrate it?

International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21st June to unite people all around the world. Celebrating yoga diwas sheds light on the ancient practice which has lost its importance with time. The sole purpose of World Day is to revive the lost glory of yoga. Yoga for International Yoga Day is not just a physical activity, it has a deeper connection to improving our physical health, lowering stress levels, and raising consciousness.

In honour of yoga diwas numerous events and celebrations are planned worldwide. World Yoga Day provides a forum for individuals and groups to discover the advantages of yoga for both physical and mental well-being, as well as its effects on society and individual welfare.

A designated day for yoga arouses enthusiasm among the people that emphasizes the advantages of yoga as a holistic practice for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. This enables individuals to get together and benefit from the life-changing powers of yoga. On this yoga diwas, yoga enthusiasts, practitioners, and experts teach yoga, conduct seminars, and provide yoga demos in public spaces, schools, and yoga studios. This establishes a general acknowledgment of yoga as a useful instrument for establishing societal harmony in addition to individual and collective well-being.

In today’s read, we will learn some basic information about Yoga Day, its history and some sustainable and organic ways to celebrate the Yoga Diwas.

History and First International Yoga Day

On International Yoga Day in 2024, people are gearing up to hit the yoga mats, but it is important to know that yoga is not a recent craze. It has a long history of 5000 years in ancient India. Yoga was designed to close the distance between the body, mind, and spirit to bring about enlightenment

During his address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the idea of World Yoga Day. Asoke Kumar Mukerji, the ambassador of India, passed a resolution to designate June 21 as International Yoga Day.

June 21 was selected to honour yoga since it is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere – the day that gets the most sun of the entire year. With 177 nations supporting it, the United Nations declared June 21 as World Yoga Day.

On June 21, 2015, New Delhi hosted the first International Yoga Day, where almost 36,000 participants, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other well-known political figures from around the world, performed 21 asanas for 35 minutes. Since then, International Yoga Day has been celebrated on the 21st of June annually.

Also Read: 5 Best Yoga Mat Brands in India 2024

International Yoga Day Logo

PM Modi put forth the idea of World Yoga Day before the United Nations General Assembly, and it was passed in a record time of 12 weeks, thanks to the diplomatic power of India’s External Affairs team.

The logo for International Yoga Day was handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. It represents all the basic elements of consciousness. The logo was created by the 18-member Panchtatva Advertising team in New Delhi. The logo was chosen through an open competition.

International Yoga Day logo

The International Yoga Day logo is imprinted on a white backdrop, depicting two hands that are clasped together and extended forth from the torso. This represents the unification of human awareness and unity by the joining of both hands.

Two pairs of brown and green leaves, representing the elements of earth and nature, are placed beneath the human art form. The orange halo over the head represents the element of fire, which is the source of all energy. The blue human form represents the element of water. An image of the world may be seen behind the human figure -signifying unity and solidarity.

International Yoga Day Theme 2024

The theme for International Yoga Day keeps changing every year. It highlights the various aspects of yoga and demonstrates how relevant it is to modern issues. In this 10th edition of Yoga Diwas, the theme of the International Yoga Day 2024 is “Yoga for Women Empowerment”.

This year, the Government has made women’s health a priority, irrespective of their age or situation. The AYUSH Ministry has conducted thorough research on a variety of diseases that affect women, such as PCOS/PCOD and stress management. The goal of highlighting women’s health is to improve women’s empowerment.

Yoga Practices to Follow on International Yoga Day

People from all around the world gather to celebrate yoga on International Yoga Day. It’s a chance to experience the transforming power of yoga while moving mindfully. Here are some yoga practices to follow on this day:

Tadasana

Step 1: Take a straight posture, place your feet together, and stand tall. Interlock your palms together by bringing them together.

Step 2: Breathe in deeply and raise your arms, keeping your palms outward.

Step 3: To complete the action, look up and gently place your head back on your shoulders.

Paschimottanasana

Step 1: Start with the pose of Dandasana. Make sure your legs are extended forward and your knees are slightly bent.

Step 2: Raise your arms and maintain a straight back. Now, tuck your upper body over your lower body and lean forward while releasing air.

Step 3: Bend your arms and place your fingertips on your toes. Lastly, try touching your knees with your nose.

Vrikshasana

Step 1: Take a straight posture, place your feet together, and stand tall. Raise your right foot and plant it on your left inner thigh.

Step 2: Join your palms in front of your chest by bringing them together. Take a breath, raise your palms, and then let go to come back.

Naukasana

Step 1: Maintain a straight back when lying down. Raise your upper body to 45 degrees off the ground now.

Step 2: Raise your legs 45 degrees off the ground by pivoting your weight onto your hips.

Step 3: Try not to bend your knees and make sure your toes are in line with your eyes.

Sustainable and Organic Ways to Celebrate International Yoga Day 2024

World Yoga Day is a perfect opportunity to step forward to establish mental and physical well-being by embracing some sustainable and organic approaches. Here are some tips to celebrate yoga for International Yoga Day 2024 in an eco-friendly manner:

Also Read: Health Benefits of Yoga

Use yoga mats

A yoga mat is one of the primary props, as this provides excellent grip and support during yoga practices. Try your sessions on natural, biodegradable materials like natural rubber, jute, or cork rather than conventional PVC materials. Orgo All-Natural brings many yoga mat options that all are organic and environment friendly.

Use yoga accessories

Opt for yoga accessories that are made from organic or recyclable materials. Often we use yoga straps, blankets, blocks and many more during our sessions – this yoga diwas, pledge for a greener element like organic cotton and bamboo. Don’t worry, Orogo All-Natural is there for you to provide all your needs. Visit our website!

Use yoga bricks and rollers

Yoga bricks and rollers are meant to improve your yoga practice. These provide support in muscle recovery. Go for natural and organic options like cork yoga bricks and foam rollers. They are durable, biodegradable, and gentle on the environment.

Yoga towel

Yoga towels that are made with organic cotton and bamboo are ideal as a sustainable alternative. These are grown without harmful pesticides and chemicals which means such yoga towels are good for our skin as well as the environment. Explore the Bamboo Towel variants at Orgo All-Natural.