Yoga Unites the UN for Sustainable Development

'Sadhguru' Jaggi Vasudev leads yoga at the UN on International Yoga Day. Credit: Valentina Ieri / IPS.By Valentina IeriUNITED NATIONS, Jun 21 2016 (IPS)The word yoga means “unite” in Sanskrit, and the Indian government hopes that the ancient practice will help United Nations member states to work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The International Day of Yoga was celebrated here Tuesday with an outdoor yoga session led by Indian yoga master ‘Sadhguru’ Jaggi Vasudev.“How can (we) transform the world without transforming human beings?” asked Vasudev, who is also founder of the Isha Foundation, an international non-profit organisation. “It is only by transforming individuals that a change in the world can be achieved.”“How can you have a peaceful world if you do not know what inner peace is?” he added. “Yoga is the search for human wellbeing. When you address human wellbeing in a scientific way, that is yoga.” Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the UN. "At its core, yoga is as much about mindful thought as it is about mindful action."Sadhguru’s approach of combining scientific yoga with human wellbeing is part of a long history of yoga being used to promote large-scale socially, sustainably, and culturally appropriate health, education, and environment projects.One of them is the Project Green Hands, an initiative set up in 2004 with the target of pla...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - June 21, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Valentina Ieri Tags: Asia-Pacific Development & Aid Editors' Choice Featured Global Global Governance Headlines Health IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse Peace Population Poverty & SDGs Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations India Sustainable De Source Type: news