12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026
Tabled 1 June 2026 by John McDonnell
That this House joins the global celebration of the 12th International Day of Yoga, on 21 June 2026, first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 with the unprecedented support of 177 countries; recalls, at a time when the world is urgently seeking peace and well-being for everyone, the timely words of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in proposing this annual international event in 2014 that yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition, it embodies unity of mind and body, a holistic approach to health and well-being, a means to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature; notes that extensive medical research has shown Yoga’s proven health benefits for a wide range of physical and mental disorders; urges the widespread application of Yoga in prevention and well-being initiatives within the NHS for both patients and staff, along with the other natural, prevention-oriented modalities such as Ayurveda; recommends that Yoga is made widely available throughout all levels of the education system to bring balance and harmony to all students and teachers; encourages all sectors of business and industry to make Yoga learning widely available and provide facilities for its practice in all workplaces to enhance the well-being and productivity of all employees; and calls on the Government to introduce Chairs of Yoga in all Medical Schools so that upcoming generations of doctors gain a thorough grounding in this time-tested knowledge of health and well-being for themselves and for their patients.