Apeejay Stya University staff members gather to celebrate International Yoga Day

On the occasion of International Yoga Day 2022, Apeejay Stya University organised a yoga session at its campus. Faculty members including both teaching and non-teaching staff participated in the event to celebrate this year’s theme “Yoga for Humanity”.

Dr Vijay Kumar, associate professor, School of Education, and NSS Programme Coordinator, ASU, welcomed all participants at the yoga session. He talked about the importance and relevance of yoga in people’s lives that are so full of stress today. Dr Shivani, assistant professor, School of Behavioural Sciences, ASU, began the day with a meditation session aimed at promoting mindfulness—the act of purposely focusing your attention on the present. Studies have shown that meditation helps attain an emotionally calm and stable mental state while improving one’s overall well-being.

The yoga session was further conducted by Ravish Ranjan, a non-teaching staff member from School of Engineering and Technology, ASU. He explained the significance of “yoga darshan” or the different ways of viewing the world as per Hindu philosophy. Yoga darshan was codified by sage Patanjali about a thousand years ago.

Ranjan also introduced the participants to various asanas while explaining their health benefits. Some participants also asked questions related to the yoga poses. The session ended with a vote of thanks to the university.

The International Yoga Day was first celebrated in 2015, following its inception in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2014. It is celebrated every year on June 21 to mark the importance of yoga and its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. ASU has been conducting yoga sessions even before the day was formally recognised by the UN.

Yoga is of many types. Of these, hatha yoga, comprising pranayamas (breathing exercises) and asanas (yoga postures), is the most popular worldwide. Yoga not only enhances physical fitness but also helps relieve stress and build inner awareness. It is known to have cardiovascular benefits too.

” Yoga is India’s gift to the whole world which has the power to ensure holistic wellness for all the human beings”

-Vijay Kumar, assistant professor, School of Education, ASU