PANAJI
The 8th edition of the International Yoga Day (IYD) will be celebrated in India as well as across the globe on the theme announced by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann ki Baat' address and will focus on 'Brand India at Global Stage' while showcasing its iconic places. The IDY observation is based on a harmonious mass yoga demonstration of a custom-made 45-minute protocol, namely Common Yoga Protocol (CYP).
This year the major attraction of the IYD observation will be the 'Guardian Ring' whereby the yoga celebrations happening across the world will be relayed throughout the yoga day. The guardian ring underlines 'One Sun, One Earth’ concept and showcases the unifying power of yoga.
June 21 which is also known as the summer solstice was chosen as the International Yoga Day because it is the longest day of the year.
When it comes to yoga in Goa, the name of the first yoga trainer in the State who is recognised by the Sports Authority of Goa, Suresh Kumar Nair comes to mind. Giving the mantra of having a pure mind in a pure body with the help of yoga, Suresh speaks of spirituality and its importance in life. Yoga should be your way of life, a habit, a dinscharya (routine), he says while speaking to The Goan on the occasion of International Yoga Day.
Calling India the oldest as well as the youngest nation, Suresh points out that yoga is our culture, our behaviour and our experience that enriches our lives with bountiful health.
Goan youngsters should start their day with yoga, and practice it every single day to save life, time and money which otherwise is spent on medicines and sickness, he feels. There are various illnesses and no doctor can cure them entirely. But yoga can even beat 85 types of cancers, he vouches. It is a lack of physical activity that leads to ill health, and yoga saves our energy, it deposits it in the body, while sports activities consume our energy.
Defining what meditation is, Suresh says concentrating on the mind and focussing it on one single thing leads to meditation, which in turn makes a person spiritual. When spiritual, the person becomes silent and this state gives peace to every human being. How healthy you are is important and all should strive to be healthy.
Yoga makes life meaningful, colourful and people should think above the body. Young children should be taught yoga as health is wealth and one cannot miss enjoying the benefits of good health. Peace of mind brings happiness and one can think of the nation when calm and composed, believes Suresh, who himself started practising yoga when he was just 15.
This year’s theme ‘yoga for humanity’ tells us to live today. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow has not arrived. So it is only today that we must live with compassion towards all, says Suresh. Pranayam teaches us to do many things systematically and one must do yoga at least for 45 minutes a day.
