The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga was “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”
On the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga, renowed Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday gave a call for a “Yogic Nation and a Yogic World” from the Krishna River region in Amaravati (Vijayawada), Andhra Pradesh.
The Yoga day event, jointly organised by Patanjali Yogpeeth and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and was attended by state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Acharya Balkrishnamof Patanjali Yogpeeth.
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The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga was “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”
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Baba Ramdev Maharaj, CM Naidu and Acharya Balkrishna led thousands of yoga practitioners through a 45-minute standardised yoga routine.
The session began with prayers and mobility exercises for the neck, shoulders, waist and knees. Participants then performed standing postures including Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Padahastasana, Ardha Chakrasana and Trikonasana.
Seated postures included Bhadrasana, Vajrasana, Ardha Ustrasana, Shashankasana and Uttana Mandukasana. Prone postures included Makarasana, Bhujangasana and Shalabhasana, while supine postures included Setubandhasana, Uttanapadasana, Ardha Halasana and Pavanamuktasana.
The session concluded with pranayama and meditation practices, including Anulom-Vilom, Bhramari and guided meditation with a collective pledge.
Addressing the gathering, Ramdev said that Amaravati is the “capital of the gods” and praised Chief Minister Naidu’s leadership in successfully organising the event.
He described Naidu as a visionary leader possessing determination, a spirit of service, commitment and exceptional creative ability. According to Swami Ramdev, Naidu is not merely a state leader but an inspiration for the entire nation.
Giving a message to the world, he said, “Do yoga, stay disease-free. This is the mantra of yoga.”
He added that yoga is a contribution, heritage and scientific gift from India’s ancient sages to humanity. Yoga is a way of life for everyone — a system of self-healing, a spiritual discipline for yogis, a lifestyle for ordinary people and a complete therapeutic system for patients.
CM Chandrababu Naidu said his mission is to take yoga to every household in Andhra Pradesh and transform it into a mass movement.
He said Baba Ramdev has popularised yoga globally and is not just India’s yoga guru but the world’s yoga guru.
Naidu further said that while he has spent the last three decades promoting technology, Swami Ramdev has spent the last 30 years spreading yoga. Going forward, technology and spirituality must progress together.
He said Andhra Pradesh aims not only to become a technology hub but also a spiritual and wellness hub, adding that such leadership can emerge only from India.
Acharya Balkrishna said Vijayawada is a sacred place and that there could be nothing more significant for the propagation of yoga than seeing Swami Ramdev and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu jointly spreading its message on International Yoga Day.
During the event, Acharya Balkrishna’s book “Yoganighantu” was released.
He said the book documents 3,753 yoga asanas, 55 types of pranayama, 721 mudras and bandhas, 120 meditation techniques, 150 purification practices and 400 yogic exercises. In total, 5,199 yoga practices have been documented for the first time.
He said the book is available in Sanskrit and English and serves as an important compilation of yoga’s vast heritage.
Chief Minister Naidu also administered a pledge encouraging participants to incorporate yoga into their daily lives and dedicate themselves to Ayurveda, Swadeshi values and national service.
Another publication, “Ayush Arogya Sutravali,” released by Andhra Pradesh’s Ayush Department, was also unveiled. The book has received recognition from the World Book of Records, London.
Ramdev thanks PM Modi for global recognition of Yoga
Swami Ramdev thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was due to his inspiration that International Yoga Day received global recognition.
He said 177 countries supported the UN resolution that institutionalised International Yoga Day globally.
According to Swami Ramdev, Prime Minister Modi’s vision and determination are guiding India towards becoming a developed, healthy, prosperous and globally respected nation.
Students Showcase Yoga Skills
Students from Patanjali Gurukulam, Acharyakulam and Patanjali University presented demonstrations of Mallakhamb yoga, rope yoga, standard yoga practices and advanced yoga techniques.
Their performances showcased Patanjali’s contribution to yoga education and demonstrated difficult postures with remarkable ease.
Special Message for Children
Swami Ramdev promoted the message of “Yoga for Youth, Yoga for Students and Yoga for Children.”
He said today’s students face numerous challenges and urged parents to teach their children at least five advanced yoga practices.
Yoga for Various Diseases
Ramdev said yoga offers solutions to many physical ailments.
Apart from the standard yoga protocol, participants practiced Ustrasana, Purna Ustrasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, Shirshasana, Chakrasana, Purna Chakrasana, Paschimottanasana, Padmasana, Utthita Padmasana, Vajrasana, Mayurasana, Mandukasana, Dandasana, Yoga Mudra, Purvasana, Vakrasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Gomukhasana, Pavanamuktasana, Uttanapadasana and Setubandhasana.
He also explained yoga’s benefits for healthy ageing, longevity, immunity, lifestyle diseases, obesity, spinal disorders, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, digestive disorders, constipation, acidity, prostate disorders, hernia, hydrocele, piles, fissures and fistulas.
The stadium was packed with yoga practitioners before 6 am.
Swami Ramdev praised the enthusiasm, discipline and devotion of the people of Andhra Pradesh and said the state has a deep reverence for yoga and Sanatan Dharma.
Pranayama Described as ‘Brahmavidya’
Ramdev said pranayama is a complete scientific system that is simple yet highly effective and can be practised by people of all age groups.
He described pranayama as “Brahmavidya” and compared its effects to nano and pico medicine.
Participants practised Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Bahya Pranayama, Anulom-Vilom, Bhramari, Ujjayi, Udgeeth, Sheetali and Sheetkari pranayama.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu; Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma; Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resource Development, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Nara Lokesh; Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav; Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh; Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani); MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and several other public representatives were present during the event.
Patanjali Yoga Samiti’s chief women coordinator Dr Sadhvi Devpriya, chief national coordinator Bhai Rakesh ‘Bharat’, Swami Parmarthdev, spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala and Aastha Channel CEO Pramod Joshi also participated in the event.
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