Gangtok, June 18: When Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur and State Health Minister GT Dhungel rolled out their yoga mats at Raj Bhawan this week, they weren’t just warming up for International Yoga Day. They were making history, not by performing complex poses, but by who they invited to join them.
In a first-of-its-kind pre-Yoga Day event, children with disabilities actively participated alongside officials, sending a powerful message: yoga is for everyone. This move marks a sharp departure from past celebrations, which often prioritized mass participation over meaningful inclusion.
Why This Event Stands Out
Most government-led Yoga Day events focus on scale—think thousands performing synchronized sun salutations in stadiums. Sikkim’s session, held ahead of the 11th International Yoga Day on June 21, took a different approach.
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Intentional Participation: Differently-abled children were not just spectators but active participants, with modified poses and specialized support.
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High-Profile Backing: Governor Mathur directly linked the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 UN speech, in which yoga was promoted under the slogan “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
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Policy Alignment: Sikkim has one of India’s most progressive policies for disability inclusion, including the provision of free assistive devices and accessible infrastructure projects.
“We celebrated yoga involving differently-abled children,” said Health Minister Dhungel. “This was a message that wellness must include everyone, regardless of ability.”
The Bigger Picture: Yoga Day’s Missing Link
Since its inception in 2015, International Yoga Day has broken records—largest gatherings, most nationalities participating, and even Guinness World Records. But critics argue it has often overlooked accessibility.
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Limited Adaptive Programs: Few government-organized Yoga Day events have featured structured adaptive yoga sessions for persons with disabilities.
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Infrastructure Gaps: A 2023 Svayam NGO report found that 78% of public yoga spaces in India lack wheelchair ramps or trained instructors for adaptive yoga.
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Global Contrast: The WHO’s Global Disability Action Plan emphasizes inclusive health practices, yet most national yoga campaigns haven’t mirrored this priority.
Sikkim’s event directly addresses this gap. “True Yoga for Health must mean health for all,” said disability rights activist Arman Ali, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). “What Sikkim did should be the standard, not the exception.”
How Adaptive Yoga Works
Adaptive yoga modifies traditional poses to accommodate physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Examples from Sikkim’s session likely included:
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Chair Yoga: Seated poses for those with mobility challenges.
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Tactile Guidance: Instructors use touch or verbal cues for visually impaired participants.
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Breath-Focused Practices: Simplified techniques for neurodivergent individuals.
Research supports its benefits: a 2022 AIIMS study found adaptive yoga reduces anxiety in children with cerebral palsy by 34%.
Will Other States Follow?
While Sikkim made inclusivity its centerpiece, other pre-Yoga Day events stuck to traditional formats:
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Rajasthan: CM Bhajan Lal Sharma practiced with students and security personnel, urging yoga as a daily habit.
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Visakhapatnam (National Main Event): Preparations focus on large-scale participation, but organizers haven’t highlighted disability-inclusive plans.
“The real test is June 21,” said Ali. “If Vizag’s national event prominently includes differently-abled participants, that’s when we’ll see systemic change.”
What’s Next?
Advocates say Sikkim’s move should spark policy shifts:
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Mandatory Accessibility: Require adaptive yoga instructors at all government-sponsored events.
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Awareness Campaigns: Highlight yoga’s benefits for disabilities through public service announcements.
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Funding: Allocate Ayush Ministry budgets for training adaptive yoga trainers.
Governor Mathur’s closing remark set the tone: “Let’s ensure everyone can say ‘Om’ together.”
As India prepares for Yoga Day, Sikkim’s small but groundbreaking session may have just written a new playbook—one where inclusion isn’t an afterthought, but the foundation.
