Ahead of International Yoga Day, UN says yoga helps with COVID anxiety

International Yoga Day is observed on June 21 every year. A United Nations initiative, the day highlights the importance of wellbeing – physical, mental and spiritual – and the benefits of yoga. 

The theme of the 2021 International Yoga Day is ‘Yoga for well-being’. It focuses on how the practice of Yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual, the UN website states. 

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According to the international body, COVID-19 has not only brought physical crisis, but it has also left lasting impacts on mental health, with many left in psychological suffering, depression, and anxiety dealing with the pandemic-necessitated restrictions and loss. Yoga can come to the help of people dealing with such crises.

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“A growing trend of people around the world embracing Yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated and to fight social isolation and depression has been witnessed 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,” the website read. 

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The United Nations also offered yoga resources, to its personnel and other people suffering from anxiety, on the COVID-19 portal’s section on wellness. Along with tips, the portal has 10-minute audio clips for guided meditation and yoga.