Why in News:

• The Delhi government said that it was going to launch a diploma course in ‘Meditation and Yoga Sciences’.

What is Yoga?

• Yoga in this context is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means “to join” or “to unite”, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. 
  • Yoga is also the name of one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, the other five being Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimansa and Vedanta.
• Yoga is mentioned in the Rigveda, and also referenced in the Upanishads, though it most likely developed as a systematic study around the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, in ancient India’s ascetic and Śramaṇa movements
• The science of yoga has its origin thousands of years ago, long before the first religions or belief systems were born. In the yogic lore, Shiva is seen as the first yogi or Adiyogi, and the first Guru or Adi Guru.
• The Number of seals and fossil remains of Indus Saraswati valley civilization with Yogic motives and figures performing Yoga Sadhana suggest the presence of Yoga in ancient India. The phallic symbols, seals of idols of mother Goddess are suggestive of Tantra Yoga. 
• Presence of Yoga is available in folk traditions, Indus valley civilization, Vedic and Upanishadic heritage, Buddhist and Jain traditions, Darshanas, epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana, theistic traditions of Shaivas, Vaishnavas, and Tantric traditions.
• Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
• Recognizing its universal appeal, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga 
  • The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Initiatives by India to promote Yoga:

• The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has a ‘Common Yoga Protocol’ for promoting some of the popular “asanas”
• The Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC) has vocational education courses in Yoga for CBSE schools.
• Candidates are given a choice to become yoga instructors and trainers through various skilling initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana is a skill development initiative scheme for recognition and standardisation of skills by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Yoga is a part of the Fit India Movement.
  • Fit India Movement is a nation-wide movement in India to encourage people to remain healthy and fit by including physical activities and sports in their daily lives. 

Yoga as Soft Power

• ‘International Yoga Day’ is seen as the projection of India’s soft power.
• It also showed the popularity of the ancient Indian practice of Yoga all over the world. 
• There are over 300 million practitioners of Yoga worldwide, of which 50% of the practitioners are Indian-origin and shows that Yoga is popular in Europe, USA etc.
• Yoga can be a big tourist boost for the country as tourists can focus on learning and practicing yoga in its birthplace.
• By showing India’s contributions to the world in the field of health, well-being and spirituality, India can project itself as a soft power and ultimately become a strong voice in global matters. 

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-govt-to-start-diploma-course-in-yoga/article34834195.ece