Yoga Day 2018: How India's answer to western fitness regimes originated

Yoga has been India’s answer to fancy fitness regimes followed in the west. It has spread to all parts of the world to such an extent that we celebrate the International Yoga Day. Almost every Indian city has something planned to celebrate on this day.

While the Prime Minister practices yoga in Dehradun with over 50,000 people, Vice-President Venkiah Naidu will be the chief guest at a Yoga day event in Mumbai. Yoga day is being celebrated in other locations like Hyderabad too.

Where to practice Yoga

But here’s the irony- Yoga must be done in a secluded place, says the Kurma Purana (Kurma Purana Part II, translated by Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, published by Motilal Banarsidaas in 1982), an early medieval Indian text. It lays down few more rules for the practice of yoga. The text has prescribed specific locations where yoga can be done - A well-guarded place, in a cave, on the banks of the river, a temple, and isolated place with no worms. It also prohibits its practice in the Caitya( Buddhist place of worship), at four-cross roads, cremation ground, dilapidated cowpen or, crowded places.