WHO 'Yoga for all' message for International Yoga Day 2022

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said that yoga has helped hundreds of millions of people from various countries and cultures during the COVID-19 pandemic in staying healthy as well as highlighted that yoga is for all of humanity. On the eve of International Day of Yoga (IDY), WHO and its Member States in the South-East Asia Region lead global efforts to celebrate the physical and mental health benefits of yoga and its contributions to lifelong health and well-being.
"Throughout the COVID-19 response, yoga has helped hundreds of millions of people from all countries and cultures stay healthy and well, highlighting that yoga is for all of humanity - the theme of this year's IDY event," she said.
Consistent with the Region-wide push to reorient health systems towards strong primary health care (PHC), she noted that the policy-makers should consider integrating yoga into community-based mental health and well-being initiatives, while also increasing efforts to leverage the power and potential of safe and effective traditional medicine.
Regular yoga practice can help people of all ages and incomes achieve the adequate physical activity, making it a high-impact, cost-effective way to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) - one of the Region's eight flagship priorities, she added.
It has been shown to have immediate psychological effects, decreasing anxiety and stress, and increasing feelings of emotional and social well-being, the WHO Regional Director said ahead of International Yoga Day which falls on June 21.

(ANI)