7th International Day of Yoga 2021 Virtual Celebration at Suresh Gyan Vihar University

These are times when the second wave has just lifted its veil and all necessary precautions still need to be maintained. As per the University Grants Commission (UGC) IDY’s Common Yoga Protocol 2021, Suresh Gyan Vihar University virtually celebrated and actively took part in the 7th International Day of Yoga 2021 from their homes. A many as hundreds of students and faculty members joined in for an hour-long online yoga demonstration on the special occasion of IDY 2021 on electronic channels viz. Google Meet and Facebook Live.

The virtual yoga event started at 8:00 am and began with the welcome speech by Hon’ble Registrar Sir, SGVU Mr. Madhusudan Sharma. Welcoming and addressing all the members of team SGVU, Hon’ble President, students, and staff at the 7th International Day of Yoga. He rightly brought our attention to the fact that today is auspicious for three reasons, first is that we are celebrating the 7th International Day of Yoga, second, it is the longest day in the northern hemisphere, the third being that Lord Shiva known as the Adiyogi is considered as the first yogi who disseminated the original knowledge of Yog to 7 muni (s).

Later the yoga techniques were systematically collected by Patanjali which has eight components namely Yama (abstinences), Niyama (observances), Asana (yoga postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (attention), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (absorption).

He mentioned that for today’s program, we have adopted only three aspects of Ashtang Yog, the first one is Asanas (postures), the secondary is Pranayama (breathing techniques), and Dhyana (meditation). During Covid times, he has been observed that everyone needs to adopt yoga in their lifestyle. It is a great way to maintain mind-body balance and natural immunity to fight diseases.

Registrar Sir mentioned that we are indebted to our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who took the idea to UN about Yoga in general assembly on 27 September 2014 and the same was resolved on 11 December 2014 declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Shortly after this welcome note, the virtual yoga performed by expert yoga demonstrators along with Mr. Arun Mathur ( Director, Sports, SGVU) began as follows.

First, there was the Prayer by Yog sadhana Ashram Acharya Sachin Jaiman followed by warm-up exercises. Then there was Surya namaskar: Three Times and Standing Exercise like these:

1. Tadasana: The foundation of all standing poses, Mountain Pose makes a great starting position, resting pose, or tool to improve posture.
2. Vakrasana: Vakrasana or the Twisted Pose makes the spine flexible and removes fat around the waist. In Sanskrit Vakra means twisted and asana is a pose. In Vakrasana, the trunk is twisted to either side and is practiced in the sitting position. It is a good twisting pose for beginners. Those who cannot perform Ardha Matsyendrasana can perform Vakrasana to get similar benefits.
3. Pada-Hastasana: Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend, with variants such as Padahastasana where the toes are grasped, is a standing forward bending asana in modern yoga as exercise.

The followed the Sitting Yogasana, which included:

1. Vajaraasana: Vajrasana, Thunderbolt Pose, or Diamond Pose, is a kneeling asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. This Yogic asana helping keep the mind calm and stable, curing digestive acidity and gas formation, helping to relieve knee pain, strengthening thigh muscles, helping to relieve back pain, strengthening sexual organs, helping in the treatment of urinary problems.
2. Ustrasana: Ustrasana is an intermediate-level back-bending yoga posture known to open Anahata (Heart chakra). This yoga posture adds flexibility and strength to the body and also helps in improving digestion.

After that there we did Sleeping asanas

1. Makarasana: Makarasana or Crocodile Pose is a reclining asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. Makarasana straightens and stretches the muscles of the rear, buttocks, legs, and also the back of the arms and legs. The crocodile posture in yoga is additionally an excellent pose to cut back stress and improves your body posture. Makarasana aims to unleash strain caused by other Poses.
2. Bhujangasana: Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose is a reclining back-bending asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. It is commonly performed in a cycle of asanas in Surya Namaskar as an alternative to Urdhva Mukha
3. Shalabhasana: The locust pose is a cultural asana–for backward bending of the spine. The final position of this Asana resembles a locust or a grasshopper–a strong flier i.e. the instrument to move is strong. To build the same quality in the body, muscles related to locomotion are strengthened.

Starting position: Lie on the stomach (prone position), with chin resting on the mat, legs stretched full length–toes pointing outwards. Rest the arms by the sides, palms facing down–slightly pushed under the thighs. Close the eyes and be at ease, maintaining body awareness.

Last, there was the Relax asana

1. Shava asana: The goal of the shava-asana is for the body and mind to be perfectly still and relaxed. Not only should the body be motionless and at ease, but the mind as well should be quiet, like the surface of a still lake. The result will be a deep and stable relaxation that will extend into your meditation or be felt through the activities of your daily circumstances.

After the Asanas, there was the Laughing Exercise

Laughter yoga (Hasyayoga) is a modern exercise involving prolonged voluntary laughter. This type of yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. The same was demonstrated by our instructor Shri. A.C. Jain ji. He very aptly mentioned that it is very important to laugh in our lives especially as we live in very commercial, fast-paced, and demanding times that we develop various kinds of tensions, stresses, and all kinds of depressions.

When we laugh, our bodies release a natural pain killer by the name 'endorphin'. When surgery is administered, patients are given pain killers to manage pain. Today we are seeing 90% of drug-related deaths per day in foreign countries due to misuse of opioids. Whereas as a natural pain killer chemical, endorphin has no addiction, is completely safe, and has no side effects. It is only in our hands to manage the stress hormone cortisol that leads to weight gain and memory loss and weak health.

He took us through the history of Hasya Yoga and talked about how the Laughter Yoga initiative was started. The first laughter yoga group had 5 people and it was started by Dr. Madan Kataria in March 1995 where today there are over 5000 laughter clubs across the world. There are many Hasya yoga exercises, but for the day, he focused on 10 select ones and began the warm-up by happy clapping. The session was stress relieving, joy-inducing, mentally freeing, and rejuvenating for all.

Last, there was Pranayam followed by Kapal Bhati. This pranayama can improve the functioning of all abdominal organs, reduces belly fat, lead to quick weight loss, and balances sugar levels in your body.Then there as the Bhastrika asana and the closing prayer.

 All in all, the message “Be with Yoga, be at Home!” was acutely delivered across as much as possible with IDY 2021 virtual event by Suresh Gyan Vihar University. A special vote of thanks to all the coordinators, instructors, and webinar convenor (Ms. Ruchi Dave, Dean Student Welfare, SGVU) for successfully executing the event.

All Students and Youth have great lessons to learn from Olympians and the greatest sports event. Right from sports excellence, women equality, evoking history, bringing the world on a common ground, and the zeal to dream and fighting well.  We wish that from the Olympic Day 2021 theme, our Gyan Viharites and all scholars learn to celebrate the power of discipline and the drive to improve in all their goals and to love what you do. Stay healthy, stay strong, stay active with the #OlympicDay workout on 23 June 2021.