The word ‘yoga’ finds its origin in the Sanskrit language. It is derived from the word ‘yuj’ which means ‘to unite’ or ‘to join’, symbolising the union between the mind, body and soul, and the harmony between humans and nature that this ancient practice is said to embody.
There are different forms of yoga, including but not limited to Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Vinayasa Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, etc.
While asanas are the most visible form of the practice, yoga extends far beyond that. According to Rishi Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutras, there are eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. These are: yama (virtue), niyama (rule), asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (attention/concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (bliss/oneness).
June 21 was chosen as International Yoga Day, or International Day of Yoga, because it is the summer solstice – the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. This day represents harmony and balance between humans and nature, which is in tandem with the essence of yoga.
Currently, the Guinness World Record for the largest yoga session is held by a Yoga Day event organised in Surat in 2023, which included 1,47,952 participants.
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