Yoga is the World’s Pause Button, Says PM Modi at International Yoga Day

Yoga is the World’s Pause Button, Says PM Modi at International Yoga Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 11th International Day of Yoga in Visakhapatnam on Saturday with a powerful message: in a world filled with stress and turmoil, yoga is the “pause button” we all need to reset, breathe, and find balance.

Addressing a massive crowd gathered for the event, PM Modi said that yoga offers more than just physical well-being—it offers a path to peace. “In these uncertain times, yoga can help guide humanity from conflict to cooperation, from stress to meaningful solutions,” he said. He urged every country to embrace yoga not just as a practice, but as a way of life—and even as part of public policy.

The scale of the celebration in Visakhapatnam was enormous. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said over 3 lakh people had come together for the mass yoga session. He praised PM Modi for taking yoga to the global stage and said yoga has now become a movement in Andhra Pradesh, with campaigns like "Yogandhra" bringing it to people’s everyday lives.

From 'Me' to 'We'

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, highlighting how all life on the planet is connected. Modi said human health depends on everything around us—the soil that grows our food, the rivers that give us water, the animals and plants we share the planet with. “Yoga teaches us that we are not separate from nature. It helps us care for ourselves first, and then gradually expands that care to others and to the world around us,” he said.

In his words, yoga helps shift the mindset from "me" to "we"—a philosophy that echoes India’s cultural values of service, coexistence, and community.

Science and Wellness

The Prime Minister also emphasized that yoga is not just spiritual—it’s backed by science. He cited research from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which shows yoga has real benefits in treating heart and brain conditions, boosting women’s health, and improving mental wellness.

Through the National Ayush Mission, yoga and holistic health are being promoted across the country, with digital tools playing a key role in spreading the message. He also highlighted India’s growing role as a global destination for healing under the “Heal in India” campaign.

As part of a broader health push, PM Modi said people should focus on natural ways to stay fit—like cutting down on unhealthy food, reducing oil intake, and making yoga a daily habit.

In his closing words, the Prime Minister reminded the world that yoga isn’t just an ancient Indian tradition—it’s a gift to humanity, one that can help build a healthier, more peaceful future.