Yoga, the best way to keep human body strong

The United Nations General Assembly, on December 14, 2014, declared that June 21 would be observed as the International Day of Yoga every year, thanks to the efforts by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It may be recalled that Modi in 2019 led around 30,000 people in performing asanas at a massive event in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi to mark the fifth International Yoga Day celebrations.

In 2018, he led close to 50,000 people in Dehradun to mark the fourth. In 2017. The event was held in Lucknow too. Chandigarh was the host city for the main event in 2016, while the first International Yoga Day celebrations were in New Delhi in 2015. This year, the celebrations went digital due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the theme of 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family', this year's celebrations were being organised digitally to ensure social distancing norms.

(Yoga is always done maintaining a distance, of course. There is really no shoulder to shoulder Yoga except, may be in its variations as we see it in the West where some even practice the same with a partner). The world is feeling the need for yoga more than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ancient Indian practice is helping a large number of Covid-19 patients across the globe in defeating the disease, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the occasion in a recorded video message.

"Pranayama" is all about breathing and breathing properly. To put it in a nutshell, it is all about our lungs. Now turning our attention to the present pandemic, Covid-19, we all know that it specifically attacks the respiratory system. 'Pranayama' or breathing exercise helps in strengthening the respiratory system the most, Modi said in his message.

Yoga has emerged as a force for unity and it does not discriminate as it goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations. Yoga enhances our quest for a healthier planet. It has emerged as a force for unity and deepens the bonds of humanity. It does not discriminate. It goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations. Anybody can embrace Yoga.

It is certainly not an exaggeration if one says that Yoga could be a preventive measure for coronavirus. The world is feeling the need for yoga more than ever. If our immunity is strong, it is of great help in defeating this disease. For boosting immunity, there are several methods in yoga, various 'asanas' are there.

These asanas are such that they increase the strength of the body and also strengthen our metabolism. Why are the doctors treating critical cases of coronavirus infected making the patients lie face-down to ensure better oxygen supply to the lungs?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now practiced in various forms around the world, the United Nations said in a press release. In a highly polarised world, there could be some debate over its "religion" always.

Such people should realise that exercise and health don't have any religion. Everyone needs it. Let us not mock it if someone says Yoga is good to fight coronavirus.