YSU marks Motherhood and World Health Days with open yoga session

The organizers highlighted the symbolic overlap of the two occasions, emphasizing that women's health and self-care play a crucial role in building a healthy society.

YSU Vice-Rector for International Relations, Development, and Innovation Mikayel Hovhannisyan stressed the importance of health-focused initiatives in academic environments. He noted that in Armenia, April 7 traditionally concludes Women's Month, providing an additional opportunity for YSU to re-evaluate the significance of the holiday, assess achievements made both during the month and throughout the year, and continue implementing programs aimed at promoting health and ensuring equality. 

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia, Nilakshi Saha Sinha, described yoga, which originated in India, as a path to discovering a sense of oneness with oneself and nature.

"Today's event aims to raise awareness about women's health and encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles and self-care. Women often neglect their own health while caring for others—an issue particularly pronounced among working women, who are juggling professional responsibilities along with domestic duties," the ambassador said. She added that overcoming this challenge requires turning to ancient and traditional practices for healthy living, one of which is yoga.  

Francoise Jacob, the UN Resident Coordinator, underscored that children tend to follow their parents' example by imitating their behavior.

"If you lead a healthy lifestyle, your children will adopt the same rhythm. This is the easiest way to live longer. Of course, beyond living longer, we also want to remain in good health. Yoga is a fantastic way of staying fit while ensuring a balance between mental health and physical health," she said, noting that yoga contributes both to physical fitness and peace of mind.

Siddhartha Sankar Datta, WHO Representative and Head of Country Office, stressed that physical health is essential and cannot remain confined to textbooks. "Health must begin with individuals and become part of our everyday choices," he said.

The yoga session brought together both experienced practitioners and beginners. Milena Hayrapetyan, a 12th-grade student at the YSU STEM High School, said it was her first experience with yoga and expressed an eagerness to explore its culture and proper meditation techniques. YSU staff member Seda Grigoryan, who has practiced yoga for many years, noted that the exercises help individuals focus on their bodies while calming the mind. One of the university's senior staff members also spoke about yoga's therapeutic benefits, noting that regular sessions helped her overcome respiratory issues and asthmatic symptoms while significantly reducing joint pain.

Among the attendees were Lusine Sargsyan, Head of the UNFPA Armenia Country Office; renowned Armenian weightlifter, world champion and healthy lifestyle advocate Nazik Avdalyan; as well as international guests. 

The event concluded with the distribution of health awareness materials, including informational leaflets on the prevention of breast and cervical cancers.