Int’l Yoga Day marked in 4 Egyptian governorates to promote mental health

22 / 06 / 2022

By Marwa Nassar - -

The International Day of Yoga (IDY) – which falls on June 21 – is meant to highlight Yoga’s significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation. It is particularly helpful in allaying their fears and anxiety.

The Embassy of India in Egypt organized events in four governorates; Cairo, South Sinai, Alexandria and Luxor, to mark the International Day of Yoga.

The Embassy of India in Cairo organized International Day of Yoga celebrations in Alexandria, a beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast, on 12 June 2022. Plaza of iconic Bibliotheca Alexandrina served as an ideal location for conveying the message of “Yoga for Humanity ” – the theme of this year’s IDY.

Dr. Safaa Al-Sherif, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth & Sports, Alexandria, participated in the event along with representatives from youth centers and sports clubs in the Governorate and in presence of sports personalities who participated in yoga workshops.

The embassy also organized in collaboration with South Sinai Governorate, Directorate of Youth & Sports, Directorate of Education, King Salman University and Sharm El-Sheikh Museum, organized a Curtain Raiser for the IDY at Sharm el-Sheikh Museum on 14 June 2022. This was the first time IDY was celebrated in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The event was attended by Ambassador of India to Egypt Ajit Gupte and his spouse alongside Maj. Gen. Abdel Fattah Helmy, Governor’s Media Advisor on behalf of South Sinai Governor Maj. Gen. Khaled Fouda; Mohammed Fathi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Youth & Sports; Eng. Meriam Edward, General Supervisor, Sharm El-Sheikh Museum; Dr. Mohammed Hassanein, Director of Sharm El-Sheikh Museum; Dr. Tamer Abbas, Director, King Salman University, Sharm El-Sheikh; Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Undersecretary, Youth & Sports Directorate, South Sinai.

The event was also attended by the heads of youth centers in Sinai Mountain and Sharm El-Sheikh and physical education supervisors in South Sinai schools.

The embassy said it also organized an IDY event on 21 June at Cairo’s Al-Azhar Park in addition to a number of yoga workshops at the Heliopolis, Al-Shams, and Arab Contractors Sporting Clubs.

The Indian ambassador said Yoga is the valuable gift of the ancient Indian civilization to the world. It addresses spiritual, mental, and physical aspects, helping people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which enhances harmony between mind, soul, and body.

Yoga of special importance in 2022:

The essence of yoga is balance – not just balance within the body or that between the mind and the body, but also balance in the human relationship with the world. Yoga emphasizes the values of mindfulness, moderation, discipline and perseverance. When applied to communities and societies, Yoga offers a path for sustainable living.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented human tragedy. Beyond its immediate impact on physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated psychological suffering and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, as pandemic-related restrictions were introduced in various forms in many countries. This has highlighted the urgent need to address the mental health dimension of the pandemic, in addition to the physical health aspects.

People around the world embraced yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated and to fight social isolation and depression during the pandemic. Yoga is also playing a significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation. It is particularly helpful in allaying their fears and anxiety.

In addition to human suffering, the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted several key vulnerabilities of the economic and developmental models of countries around the world. Future prosperity demands that the member states rebuild differently as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, WHO in collaboration with the Government of India, launched WHO mYoga – a yoga app to help people stay active and healthy. The app is safe and secure, and does not collect any data from users. It is available for free download on Android devices, and Apple devices.

The app contains a collection of videos and audio files to teach and accompany yoga practice, and is an easy-to-use and free tool for both people who are trying yoga for the first time or those who already practice yoga regularly. No special equipment is needed, and users can learn or practice for between 3 to 45 minutes, so even busy people can use it to get active.

The app was developed by BeHe@lthy BeMobile, a joint initiative between the World Health Organization and the International Telecommunications Union Input from experts around the world was organized by the WHO Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine unit and Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (the WHO collaborating center for traditional medicine). WHO mYoga was created in response to the global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023, which aims to strengthen the quality, safety, and effectiveness of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

As highlighted in WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030, the routine practice of yoga – a 5000-year-old tradition – is a valuable tool for people of all ages to make physical activity an integral part of life and reach the level needed to promote good health. Adults require at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity.

Regular physical activity is a well-established protective factor for the prevention and treatment of many noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors, such as hypertension, overweight and obesity. Physical activity is associated with improved mental health, prevention and delay of dementia and improved quality of life and well-being.

Yoga can be an important instrument in the collective quest of humanity for promoting sustainable lifestyle in harmony with planet Earth. In keeping with this spirit, the theme for this year’s Yoga Day celebrations is “Yoga for Humanity.”

How UN resolution on Yoga Day was issues:

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action … a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature.”

The resolution notes “the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.” In this regard, the World Health Organization has also urged its member states to help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

But yoga is more than a physical activity. In the words of one of its most famous practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, “Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”