Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday led a special yoga session with Members of Parliament in the Parliament House Complex on the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga, emphasizing that yoga is a powerful tool for maintaining mental peace, patience, emotional balance and a disciplined lifestyle.
Addressing MPs and participants after the session, Speaker Birla said yoga represents India’s timeless civilisational heritage and offers humanity a pathway to health, harmony and inner peace.
“Yoga not only balances the body but also the mind and thoughts. Differences of opinion are natural in Parliament, but yoga shows us the path of dialogue and self-restraint,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of yoga in contemporary society, the Lok Sabha Speaker noted that modern life is increasingly marked by stress, imbalance and uncertainty. In such circumstances, he said, yoga provides an effective and accessible solution to many of the challenges faced by individuals and societies.
“One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is mental stress, and yoga offers an accessible, scientific and inclusive solution,” Speaker Birla said.
He stressed that the practice of yoga is far more than a fitness regimen and should be viewed as a means of nurturing personality, character and consciousness. He added that regular yoga practice helps individuals become more balanced, improves decision-making abilities and contributes to overall well-being.
Referring to India’s rich yogic tradition, Speaker Birla said generations of sages and scholars preserved and developed yoga as a way of life aimed at promoting physical health, mental peace and the awakening of human consciousness. While yoga has now evolved into a global movement embraced across countries and cultures, he noted that its roots remain firmly embedded in India’s ancient knowledge systems.
The LS Speaker also underscored the importance of yoga for younger generations, particularly in an increasingly digital world.
“Today’s digital generation must make yoga a part of their lifestyle to balance screen time and stress,” he said.
Calling healthy citizens the foundation of a strong nation, Speaker Birla observed that public health and national progress are closely linked.
“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset of a strong democracy,” he said, adding that if India’s 1.4 billion citizens devote even a few minutes each day to yoga, it could become the country’s largest public health revolution.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also highlighted the role of elected representatives in spreading awareness about yoga and encouraging its adoption across society. He said public representatives, who remain in constant dialogue with citizens, can play a vital role in promoting the transformative benefits of yoga and inspiring people to integrate it into their daily routines.
Emphasising yoga’s global relevance, Speaker Birla said India’s contribution extends beyond cultural influence.
“Yoga is not just India’s soft power; it is India’s responsibility to humanity,” he said.
Urging citizens to embrace yoga beyond symbolic celebrations, he called for sustained commitment to the practice throughout the year.
“Yoga must become not a one-day celebration, but a 365-day commitment,” Speaker Birla said, appealing to people to strengthen a culture of health, harmony and self-discipline through regular yoga practice.
