The Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, University of Jammu celebrated 6th International Day of Yoga at Gymnasium Hall University of Jammu. Around 150 participants participated in the Yoga session including students and faculty of the University of Jammu and the members of civil society. Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Prof. Dhar in his address stressed upon the importance of yoga for mental and spiritual health and urged the participants to make yoga a part of their daily course as it helps one to realize one's potential to their fullest.Yoga is a discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science of healthy living.

Yoga leads to a perfect harmony between mind and body, man and nature, individual consciousness and universal consciousness. Yoga is also useful in conditions where stress is believed to play a role. Various yogic practices such as Yogasanas, Pranayama, Dhyana (meditation), cleansing and relaxation practices etc. are known to help modulate the physiological response to stressors. The welcome address was presented by Dr. Daud Iqbal Baba,Director, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, University of Jammu. In his address, Dr. Daud welcomed the chief guest, other invited guests and participants of today's session and laid emphasis on various aspects of Yoga. He conveyed the message to the gathering that the Planet Earth is going through a bad time and nobody knows actually how to deal with it rather how to survive from this COVID-19.

Yoga helps to build up psycho-physiological health, emotional harmony; and manage daily stress and its consequences. Several randomized controlled studies have shown the efficacy of Yogic practices in management of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma , diabetes , sleep disorders, depression, obesity, etc. that can be co-morbid conditions in patients with COVID 19. Yoga has also been shown to be useful in vulnerable populations such as elderly, children. The function of the immune system is critical in the human response to infectious disease.

A growing body of evidence identifies stress as a co factor in infectious disease susceptibility and outcomes. Studies on yoga in managing flu symptoms during an Influenza season have shown promising results. A recent randomized trial comparing meditation and exercise with wait-list control among adults aged 50 years and older found significant reductions in ARI illness during cold season with mindfulness meditation. Yoga is also known to increase mucosal immunity by increasing Salivary Beta Defensin-2 levels in elderly population Considering that they are a vulnerable group to contract such infections, yoga may be useful as a preventive measure.

Yoga practices such as Kriya, Yogasana and Pranayama have been shown to reduce airway reactivity in elderly subjects with asthma and COPD. Thus, sufficient evidence exists to justify testing the hypothesis that training in Yoga /Meditation can reduce susceptibility to ARI illness. Neti Kriya is useful in acute coryza and symptoms of cold .

The Yoga session was conducted by Sanjeev Kumar, Teaching Assistant of the Department of Yoga and Nikhil Puri. The formal proceedings and vote of thanks was carried out by Dr. Komal Nagar, I/C Assistant Director and Drishti Sharma. Others present there were Dr. Jaspal Singh Warwal, P.D Singh, Jai Bharat,Vinod Sharma, Raj Kumar Bakshi, Ravish Vaid, Gagan Kumar, Vikas Karlopia, Sanjay Jamwal, Harinderpal Singh, Sanjay Verma and Gagandeep Singh.