International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 every year, to raise awareness across the globe, about the numerous health benefits of yoga – an age-old form of exercise which originated in India.

In fact, the specific date – June 21 – was recommended by the Indian Government, as it is the summer solstice – the longest day with maximum sunshine in the Northern hemisphere, which symbolizes a unique cultural aspect in many countries around the world. Also Read: Happy Pongal/Sankranti: How Offering Salutations To The Sun Boosts Wellbeing

Hence, since the year 2015, June 21 has been officially declared by the United Nations as an important health day observed worldwide, to highlight the wonderful incentives of yoga for overall wellness.

Yoga, which is derived from “Yuji” meaning union in Sanskrit, is a traditional custom which effectively combines the mind and body, to attain a state of equilibrium and oneness.

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It confers immense merits for total healthcare, including lowering the risk of cancer, mitigating joint pain in arthritis, averting injury to bones and muscles, enriching skin texture and augmenting heart functions. Also Read: Yogasanas For Heart: 5 Incredible Yoga Poses To Keep Cardiac Anomalies At Check

In the current scenario, where every single person is grappling with the new normal, owing to the coronavirus disease, yoga is all the more relevant. In fact, keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme for this year’s International Yoga Day is “Yoga At Home And Yoga With Family”.

Unlike countless other rituals which have lost their fundamental importance, yoga has indeed stood the test of time. From famous institutions popularizing the practice and the usual classroom sessions in schools, colleges, yoga, today, has gone digital.

Now, pretty much everyone in any corner of the globe can learn how to do yoga exercises to maintain good health, despite having to adjust to the present reality of social distancing and staying at home.

How Performing Yoga Asanas During COVID-19 Lockdown Safeguards Physical And Mental Health:

Enhances Respiratory Wellness

What with COVID-19 being a contagious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract comprising the nose, tubular structures and the lungs, it is vital to shield these organs from infection. Engaging in yoga asanas and pranayama exercises along with kids and elders in the family vastly increase lung capacity and amplify breathing functions.

Promotes Deep Sleep

Stringent orders to remain cooped up indoors all day, with limited exposure to direct sunlight and outdoor environment, tends to make a person quite dull, bored and drowsy. Doing simple yoga workouts for just 30 minutes daily keeps one active during the daytime, thus ensuring a good night’s sleep.

Boosts Energy Levels

Erratic schedules, untimely meals and a very sedentary work-from-home routine certainly contribute to extreme laziness and lethargy. Performing yoga asanas first thing in the morning elevates physical endurance and mental alertness, increasing stamina and fitness. This, in turn, regulates metabolism and conserves normal working of cardiac muscles.

Alleviates Stress And Tension

Being restricted within four walls in a home definitely causes much mental stress, besides other conditions like depression and anxiety. Yoga and meditation focus on inner calmness, freeing the mind of all worry and pressure, thus greatly stimulating memory, concentration, brainpower and providing instant stress relief.

Improves Quality Of Life

Since the lockdown orders and stringent stay at home measures are being implemented in most nations for an extended period of several months, it obviously leads to many minor and major health problems, which negatively influence the longevity of a person. Yoga offers amazing advantages for increasing lifespan, as well as uplifting the quality of living.