Yoga has emerged as force for unity, does not discriminate: PM Modi

Amid a stand-off with China over the boundary issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said practicing yoga helped achieve emotional stability to confidently negotiate challenges.

“Yoga gives us not only physical strength but also mental balance and emotional stability to confidently negotiate challenges before us,” Modi said in his address on the occasion of International Yoga Day.

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To negotiate the challenge posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, the prime minister prescribed practicing different versions of the breathing exercise ‘pranayama’ to strengthen the respiratory system.

“The various techniques of Pranayam help strengthen our respiratory system as well as the immune system. I exhort you to include Pranayam in your daily exercises. COVID-19 patients across the world are benefiting from yoga, which is helping them fight the disease,” Modi said.

He said yoga enhanced the quest for a healthier planet and has emerged as a force for unity and deepened the bonds of humanity.
“It does not discriminate. It goes beyond race, colour, gender, faith and nations. Anybody can embrace Yoga,” the prime minister said.

“If we can fine-tune our chords of health and hope, the day is not far away when the world will witness the success of a healthy and happy humanity. Yoga can definitely help us make this happen,” Modi said.

With the outbreak if the COVID-19 pandemic, International Day of Yoga is being marked on digital media platforms instead of mass gatherings.

On December 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21 as ‘International Day of Yoga', months after the Prime Minister had mooted the proposal.

President Ram Nath Kovind said yoga was India’s great gift to the world and shared pictures of himself practicing yoga.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said yoga helped in improving physical and mental well-being of an individual.