Members of the UP Mindanao community and local residents of Mintal gathered together to celebrate the International Yoga Day on 21st of June 2025. With this year’s theme, “One Yoga, One Nature,” the event fostered a shared experience of movement, mindfulness, and connection among people across different walks of life, all while basking in nature. Held at the Cultural Complex building, in the gentle breeze of the wind, surrounded by trees and the sounds of chirping birds, the yoga session echoed the theme’s message of the connection between human beings, nature, and overall wellness.
The session was led by Professor Jonathan Y. Cagas of the Department of Human Kinetics, who generously offered the class for free as a way of giving back to the community. He skillfully guided the participants through a combination of pranayama, breathing exercises and asana, a series of postures and poses. The participants spanned a wide age range, from 19 being the youngest to as old as 67, revealing the inclusive nature of yoga and its relevance to people in every stage of life. Some joined to improve their balance, others to ease chronic pain. For some, it was a step toward better body awareness, while others hoped to sharpen their focus or simply find calm in the midst of busy lives. Despite these varying reasons, the class cultivates a shared sense of purpose, to care for one’s well-being.
The event concluded with a moment of introspection, as participants took part in the lecture and reflected in the final message of the day—a quote from Yoga Guru Swami Kuvalayananda:
“Yoga has a message for humanity. It has a message for the human body. It has a message for the human mind, and it has a message for the human soul.”
It was clear that yoga had offered more than just physical movement. It has provided a space for healing, connection, and renewal, reminding everyone that in yoga, as in nature, we are all part of something greater than ourselves.
By Sophie Marian M. Tejero (UP-DC Project Staff)