Why Yoga Belongs in Public Life

What happens when yoga, public life and international diplomacy come together in one very hot day at the House of Commons?

British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) Trustee and Regional London Officer, Alex Yates, was there on 22 June for the UN International Day of Yoga, and here she reflects on what it felt like to represent BWY at such a significant event.

What was it like representing BWY at the event?

It was a real honour to represent BWY. I felt very proud, and it reinforced the high standing BWY has in the yoga world.

More than 80 delegates gathered in the House of Commons and I was pleased to speak alongside High Commissioners and Deputies from Commonwealth countries including India, Mauritius, Uganda and Sri Lanka.

The event was chaired by Amarjeet S Bharma from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Indian Traditional Sciences and Jas Athwal MP for Ilford South. This year’s theme was Yoga for Healthy Ageing, with schools and yoga organisations invited to share how they are bringing yoga into communities and helping people of all ages benefit from it.

One school leader spoke about introducing yoga into schools across the UK, and another shared a project called ‘1 Billion Acts of Kindness’, showing how yoga values can inspire kindness at scale, including through social media.

I spoke at the end of the day about the importance of strong standards in yoga teacher training, and how poor-quality provision can weaken trust in the profession. That point clearly struck a chord.

What were your key takeaways?
A number of eminent people asked me whether BWY could help reinforce high standards in yoga teaching. My answer is absolutely yes. Good standards are vital not only to protect the integrity of the profession, but also to help support wellbeing in a way that can ease pressure on the NHS.

If yoga and other traditional Indian sciences can reach even more people, and if more people understand the difference yoga can make in their lives, it has the potential to heal and transform lives on a much wider scale than it already does.

What did the event say about yoga’s role today?
Speakers linked yoga to mental health, community wellbeing, social connection and even the economy. There was a strong sense that yoga can support healthier people, stronger communities and better international relationships. Several speakers also highlighted yoga’s wider value in diplomacy, wellbeing tourism and cultural exchange, showing how it sits within the social, political and economic fabric of modern life.

It was enlightening and energising. The day talked about unity, kindness and connection – and how can you not feel excited about that?