On the 21st of June 2023, in celebration of the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY-23), units of the Western Naval Command (WNC) organized yoga camps under the theme ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ and ‘Yoga from the Arctic to Antarctica.’ Following the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) promulgated by the Ministry of Ayush, these camps were conducted from 0700-0830 hours.
Over 7000 naval personnel and defense civilians, including family members, participated in the camps held at various locations, including naval units based in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka. The spirit of yoga transcended geographical boundaries as naval personnel aboard naval ships and submarines on the high seas and in five foreign ports also engaged in yoga sessions, expressing the benefits of yoga across the oceans.
Yoga Unites the Naval Community
‘The Yoga Institute,’ one of the oldest organized yoga centers in the world, played a significant role in the IDY-23 celebrations. Yoga sessions were conducted on board INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao at the naval dockyard in Mumbai. Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command, graced the event as the Chief Guest. Special yoga sessions were dedicated to naval personnel and their families at Navy Nagar in Colaba, fostering the spirit of yoga among the younger generation.
Preparing for the Celebrations
Leading up to the grand event, renowned yoga institutes ‘Kaivalyadhama’ and ‘Heartfulness’ organized yoga workshops for naval personnel and their families in South Mumbai from 7th to 9th June 2023 and 15th to 17th June 2023, respectively. Furthermore, on the concluding day of the event, certified yoga instructors from Patanjali Samiti, Art of Living, and Bharat Swabhiman (NYAS) organized large-scale yoga camps at various locations. These camps included Naval Dockyard, residential areas, and Marine Drive, spreading the message of yoga awareness far and wide. To further promote yoga, activities such as seminars, lectures, quizzes, essay competitions, and photography contests were held in the weeks preceding IDY-23.
Embracing the Tradition of Physical and Mental Well-being
The Western Naval Command has always encouraged officers and personnel to excel in sports, adventures, and physical fitness activities. In line with this tradition, yoga has been incorporated as a daily practice for enhancing physical and mental health on board ships and establishments. Furthermore, yoga coaching camps are frequently organized at naval residential areas to benefit service personnel and their families.
The 9th International Day of Yoga witnessed the Western Naval Command’s enthusiastic participation in yoga camps, spreading the essence of yoga across naval units and beyond. The theme ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ exemplified the unifying power of yoga, transcending boundaries and promoting holistic well-being among naval personnel and their families.
