Yoga a way to wellness, says Health Minister

Wearing comfortable whites, with their yoga mats neatly lined up on the floor, hundreds of citizens observed the 11th International Yoga Day. They were joined by Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who called yoga a way of life. The event was hosted by the district administration, District Ayurvedic Department and several state authorities at Guru Nanak Stadium, under the auspices of the CM’s Yogashala.

Addressing a gathering of 1,500 citizens, who practiced yoga together, Health Minister Balbir Singh said, “We should practice yoga daily to make our lives healthy and happy so that we can live with a healthy body and mind. For a healthy mind and soul, one needs to avoid junk food and maintain discipline.”

MLA, Amritsar South, Dr Ajay Gupta said that yoga is part of our heritage and in today’s fast-paced life, when physical activities have become less important, its importance increases even more. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney appealed to the people to take the help of CM’s Yogashala to get involved. She said that 25 yoga trainers and 44 diploma students have been appointed to teach yoga to the people.

The Deputy Commissioner said that under CM’s Yogshala, free yoga training is being provided by experts at 250 public places, where more than 5,000 people are participating.

“Yoga classes have also started in rural areas where a large number of people are joining and making their lives healthy. A sapling langar was also organised on the occasion of Yoga Day,” she said.

Apart from schoolchildren, a large number of representatives from the Indian Yoga Institute were present. NCC Group Headquarters, Amritsar, also marked the day with a yoga workshop at Khalsa College. This grand celebration saw the participation of 1,000 plus NCC cadets from various units of Amritsar, making it a significant event.

First, the NCC cadets witnessed live address by the PM on a large LED screen. Later, the cadets showcased an impressive array of yoga postures and techniques. Officiating Group Commander, Amritsar, Col Harpreet Singh emphasised the role of yoga in fostering discipline, concentration and resilience—qualities essential for future leaders.

Bharatiya Yog Sansthan (BYS) celebrated the 11th International Yoga Day at the historic Rambagh (Company Bagh) today. More than 1,000 yoga practitioners enthusiastically participated in the event, marking the day with dedication and energy. This year, the 11th International Yoga Day was celebrated on the theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” emphasising the vision of good health for every individual on the planet.

Yoga Day was celebrated at over 100,000 locations, with large-scale public participation in yoga sessions. Additionally, practitioners from over 4,500 centres of the Bharatiya Yog Sansthan in India and abroad actively participated in yoga sessions today.

Amritsar