The world tries to breathe well and stretch the blues away on International Yoga Day

Niloufar Saleem, Gulf Today

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, which falls on Monday, the 21^st of June, people from all walks of life unite to celebrate.

Other than India, which is where yoga originated, people in New York, Pakistan, Palestine, Malaysia, and world over celebrated the International Yoga Day, by conducting Yoga sessions in the open for everyone.

 People take part in a yoga session at a park in Amritsar.

A handful of Palestinian paramedics also performed yoga on a beach in Gaza City.

People took to open spaces amidst the coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns, to breathe well and stretch the blues away.

 Women take part in yoga session at outer area of the historical Shalimar Garden, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Yoga also remains a flickering hope to revive mental health and physical wellbeing as many people suffer amidst the coronavirus restrictions and lockdown and remain indoors.

The word 'Yoga' which is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite,' is a physical activity that is done mainly for a fit body and mind.

 Palestinian paramedics perform Yoga on International Day of Yoga.

As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature.