By The Editor
It is a common phenomenon that when people are healthy they do not bother much about their bodies but once they get sick then they start worrying and if it gets worse they will begin to immediately seek medical help and will not mind to spend money. The best way to keep our body healthy and strong is to take proper care and hence the saying, “Prevention is better than cure”. Yoga, the ancient Hindu traditional health system, stresses on mental and physical discipline, peace of mind, and a deeper insight into the nature of reality. Means of achieving its aim include moral preparation, control of health and senses, special postures, mental concentration, and meditation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself a great yoga enthusiast has been advocating the concept and values of yoga not only in India but also worldwide. The United Nations which has been taking note of it and due to great initiative of Modi gave international recognition to yoga by declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga the first official celebration being on June 21, 2015 and is observed every year from thence on.
Government of India is concerned not just about the health of the country but also about the health of the planet. For better and effective implementation it has established the Ministry of AYUSH, an acronym for Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Number of people practising yoga in the country has increased with each year since 2015 to keep oneself stress-free and healthy. The concept of “From illness to well-ness” has also offered job prospects associated with yoga training which is now practised in about 177 countries throughout the world. World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with India by launching the project Mobile Yoga for providing health coverage by 2030 based on the concept of ‘Stay Healthy, Stay Mobile’ under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to study by Central Council of Yoga and Naturopathy the effect of yoga on health has been very effective. In February 2016 an advisory National Board for Promotion and Development of Yoga and Naturopathy (NBPDYN) has been constituted to give policy advice and recommendations regarding promotion of yoga and naturopathy. For certification of yoga professionals and accreditation of institutions prescribing yoga courses a Yoga Certification Board (YCB) has been set up. This year marks the eighth International Day of Yoga (IDY) and its theme is “Yoga for Humanity”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced two awards (one international and one national) for exceptional contributions to promotion and development of yoga. Yogasana has also been designated as a sport.