For the second year, since the International Day of Yoga (IDOY) was launched, Guyana appears to be well on its way to commemorating it in style. On Sunday, obviously attempting to accommodate those who work or attend school today, the official day, several groups across Guyana did not just talk about YOGA, but actually practised it.
And this is a crucial difference about IDOY. It is based on a philosophy of life that privileges action over mere thinking about action. A 5000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice, it originated in India, and is meant to transform both body and mind. The word “yoga” is of Sanskrit origin and its affinity to the English word “yoke” make obvious the former’s common origin with the latter: they both mean “union with”. Yoga is both a state of connection and a collection of techniques that allow us to connect to anything. There are thus many kinds of “yoga” all eventually leading to an experience of deeper truths about the nature of reality.
The type of “yoga” that IDOY promotes is more properly called “Hatha Yoga”, which includes the various postures (asanas); some of which most persons are now familiar with because of the phenomenal popularity of yoga in the West in recent years. But Hatha Yoga also includes breathing techniques (pranayama); purification techniques (shat karmas); energy regulation techniques (mudra and bandha) all of which are opened to adepts after they become familiar with the basic postures.
While these postures are a way station to deeper realisations, in and of themselves in modern parlance, they were a series of “exercises” that utilise every muscle group of the human body and induce profound effects on several internal organs. For instance, at the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) IDOY’s function at Leonora on Sunday, they announced a programme to be launched later this year called “Yoga for Diabetes”. In conjunction with a diet regimen and lifestyle changes, specific yoga techniques will be taught to individuals having a diabetic condition, which would stimulate the pancreas to produce some insulin in addition to providing general bodily exercise.
IDOY was the result of a call by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the UN General Assembly not long after he captured the imagination of world leaders after his election to office in May 2014. On September 27, of that year, he declared: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; 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. “
Following on PM Modi’s proposal, on December 11 in 2014, the UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. This day – the day of the annual Summer Solstice – was chosen because in the words of Modi, “the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.” It is the beginning of summer in this hemisphere.
The logo of IDOY is also deeply symbolic. It has two hands in the famous “namaste” pose which represents “the union of individual Consciousness with that of universal Consciousness, a perfect harmony between mind and body, man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. Brown leaves symbolise the Earth element, green leaves symbolise Nature, blue symbolises the Water element, brightness symbolises the Fire element and the Sun symbolises the source of energy and inspiration. The logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga.”
In the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, “This year’s observance of the International Day of Yoga highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 United Nations Member States.”
