23 Jun 2025

“In a world where stress, anxiety and lifestyle diseases continue to rise, yoga offers a time-tested, low-cost and deeply enriching solution,” says the Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, Mr Bharath Kumar Kuthati.

Speaking during the 11^th International Day of Yoga celebrations held in Gaborone on Saturday, Mr Kuthati emphasised the holistic benefits of yoga, describing it as a path to mental clarity, emotional resilience, inner stillness and wisdom.

“Through regular practice, yoga inspires virtues that elevate the human spirit, courage that protects like a father, forgiveness that comforts like a mother, peace that becomes our constant companion, and wisdom that nourishes our journey,” he said, adding that ‘yoga is more than posture, it is a way of being’. 

Celebrated under the global theme: Yoga for One Earth, One Health, Mr Kuthati highlighted the interconnectedness of personal well-being and planetary health. He noted that the message of yoga went beyond the individual, calling on humanity to live with greater mindfulness, compassion, and ecological awareness.

“Yoga encourages us to be conscious of how we breathe, move, eat, consume, and engage with the world. It connects the physical with the spiritual, the self with the universe, and individuals with one another,” he said and encouraged Batswana to embrace it not just as a form of exercise, but as a guiding philosophy for a balanced, purposeful, and harmonious life.

Sharing the same sentiments, World Health Organisation (WHO) partnership representative, Ms Christina Birsan praised yoga’s contribution to global health and wellness.

“WHO recognises yoga as a powerful tool for promoting mental and physical health. Yoga plays a key role in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases and reducing stress and anxiety,” said Ms Birsan.

She also highlighted yoga’s accessibility, calling it an inclusive practice suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

“Its affordability and adaptability make it a sustainable health solution,” she said, encouraging the integration of yoga into workplaces, to support employee well-being.

The event featured yoga demonstrations, breathing exercises, and guided meditation sessions led by trained instructors. Participants of all ages joined in the celebration, embodying the spirit of unity, health, and mindfulness, reaffirming yoga’s growing influence in Botswana and around the globe.

Organised in partnership with the Indian High Commission, local wellness groups, the celebration marked Botswana’s growing engagement with yoga as a cultural and public health initiative. First observed in 2015 following a United Nations resolution initiated by India, the International Day of Yoga is now celebrated annually in over 177 countries, promoting the message that inner peace and outer harmony are within reach for all. ENDS