New Delhi, June 1 (IANS). The theme of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be celebrated on 21 June 2026 has been set as “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”. The theme reflects India’s ancient and holistic lifestyle, which promotes longevity along with a healthy, active and dignified life. Yoga is being accepted across the world today as an effective means of physical, mental and emotional health.
Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of AYUSH and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said that in the era of increasing life expectancy, it is very important to live old age in a healthy and dignified manner.
He said that in the ancient tradition of India, sages and yogis have set an example of longevity and good health through yoga and spiritual discipline. According to him, yoga teaches a person the art of living a healthy and balanced life.
This year’s theme focuses not just on increasing lifespan, but also on increasing “healthspan”, i.e. the length of life spent in a healthy state. Regular practice of yoga promotes physical flexibility, mental balance, emotional strength and an active lifestyle, making the aging process more seamless.
There has also been a significant increase in scientific research globally regarding yoga and healthy ageing. According to available data, 183 research papers were published on this topic in the year 2014, while by 2025 this number will increase to 1,207. This increase reflects growing scientific interest in the usefulness of yoga in addressing the physical and mental challenges associated with age.
The Ministry of AYUSH is promoting Yoga as a lifestyle to be adopted throughout the year. Under this, initiatives like “Yoga 365”, “Yoga Samavesh” and special yoga protocols for non-communicable diseases and senior citizens are being implemented. These programs aim to improve balance, mobility, respiratory capacity and mental health in the elderly. The Ministry of AYUSH has taken several initiatives to promote Yoga as a year-round wellness practice and strengthen its role in preventive healthcare.
This theme of International Yoga Day 2026 has come at a time when the elderly population is increasing rapidly across the world. In such a situation, yoga is emerging as an effective and accessible solution towards healthy, active and dignified old age.
–IANS
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