While addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2014, the Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi urged the world community to adopt an International Day of Yoga. “Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga is not about exercise but about discovering the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world, and Nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day,” Shri Modi said. On December 11, 2014, the 193-member UNGA approved the proposal by consensus with a record 177 co-sponsoring countries a resolution to establish 21 June as the “International Day of Yoga”. In its resolution, the UNGA recognized that Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing Yoga for the health of the world population. Yoga also brings harmony in all walks of life and thus, is known for disease prevention, health promotion, and management of many lifestyle-related disorders. 

This course intends to give a brief overview of Yoga and Yogic practices to ignite the interest in the individual to learn and practice yoga for a healthy and harmonious life. When each individual starts practicing yoga the entire community starts the yogic way of life and builds a stronger nation.