International Yoga Day 2025: Leaders Emphasize Yoga’s Role in National Health and Mental Well-Being
As the world observed the 11th International Day of Yoga, India celebrated the profound impact of this ancient practice on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of its citizens. The occasion served not just as a symbolic tribute to India’s rich heritage but also as a reminder of yoga’s transformative power in fostering a healthier society.
PM Modi: “Yoga Is the Pause Humanity Needs”
Speaking at a mass yoga event in Visakhapatnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the relevance of yoga in today’s conflict-ridden world. He emphasized how yoga could serve as a powerful tool for inner peace, resilience, and emotional balance.
“In many parts of the world today, tension and instability are on the rise,” Modi said. “In such times, yoga offers a direction of peace. It is the pause button that humanity needs—to breathe, to reset, to regain balance and wholeness.”
Urging global communities to adopt yoga as a way of life, the Prime Minister added, “Let this Yoga Day be the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes a global policy.”
Yogi Adityanath: “Yoga Promotes Holistic Public Health”
In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a mass yoga demonstration and described yoga as a timeless gift from India’s Rishi tradition, which emphasizes not just physical health but complete well-being.
“Yoga is a mantra from our ancient wisdom that nurtures both a healthy body and a healthy mind,” he said. “A sound body is the foundation for Dharma, Karma, and Moksha—all aspects of a meaningful life. By promoting yoga as public practice, India is contributing to global health and welfare.”
JP Nadda: “Yoga as Preventive Healthcare”
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who led a mass yoga demonstration at Kartavya Path in Delhi, lauded yoga as a critical element in preventive healthcare. He said its inclusion in India’s National Health Policy 2017 has enabled the government to offer more holistic, affordable, and accessible healthcare solutions.
“It is a moment of national pride that people across India and the world are celebrating this ancient knowledge system. Thanks to the Prime Minister’s appeal at the UN in 2014, June 21 is now observed as International Yoga Day by over 170 countries,” he said.
Jyotiraditya Scindia: “Yoga Unites the World”
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia attended a yoga session at the historic Rajbada Palace in Indore, where he emphasized the global impact of India’s health philosophy.
“Yoga is now reshaping the global wellness narrative. Under PM Modi’s leadership, the world has embraced yoga not only as a physical practice but as a tool for mental well-being and emotional harmony,” he said. “It is a living example of India’s belief in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—that the world is one family.”
Rekha Gupta: “Yoga Must Transcend Politics”
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who performed yoga along the banks of the Yamuna River in Sonia Vihar, criticized those politicizing yoga and downplaying its health benefits due to political associations.
“Yoga is not about politics—it is about public health,” she said, referencing the AAP government’s hesitance in celebrating Yoga Day. “We are here today to show people that the river and the spirit of yoga—both symbols of cleansing and renewal—are being restored.”
Joined by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and Minister Kapil Mishra, Gupta also spoke of efforts to clean the Yamuna, aligning environmental wellness with public health initiatives.
Himanta Biswa Sarma: “Yoga as Cultural and Health Heritage”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma underscored that yoga represents India’s cultural and medical heritage, and credited the Prime Minister for ensuring its global acknowledgment.
“Yoga is a pathway to both physical vitality and mental clarity. It is our heritage, and now the world is rediscovering it. Thanks to the Prime Minister’s efforts, yoga is now an internationally respected tool for well-being,” Sarma stated.
Conclusion: Yoga as a National Health Movement
As India celebrated the 11th International Yoga Day, the focus across states and leadership was clear: yoga is not just a cultural practice but a national health strategy. In a world battling lifestyle diseases, stress, and mental health crises, yoga offers an accessible, inclusive, and preventive solution rooted in India’s ancient wisdom.
By anchoring yoga within public policy and healthcare frameworks, leaders reaffirmed its role in building a healthier, more mindful, and emotionally resilient society.
