The year, 2019 will see the fifth annual International Day of Yoga that will be celebrated on the 21 June. While The United Nations is celebrating the day on Thursday, 20 June 2019, with "Yoga with Gurus," back here in India, where the ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated, our Prime Minister is showing us how to strike the different yoga poses. Just yesterday, India's Prime Minister released a video of him doing the Tadasana or the Mountain pose and today it is all about Vrikshasana or The Tree Pose. 2019's theme for international yoga day is "Climate Action." International Day of Yoga 2019: PM Narendra Modi Performs Tadasana; How to Perform the Asana for Perfect Abs and Posture.

The word "yoga" is derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite that symbolises the union of body and consciousness and the International Day of Yoga is dedicated to raising awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. Vrikshasana, the asana that Narendra Modi performed today in an animated video on Twitter is known to have ample health benefits. The asana helps improve concentration and alertness of the brain, and it rejuvenates your body. It improves neuromuscular coordination and strengthens the legs.

How to Perform Vrikshasana

  • Stand upright with your hands on your side.

  • Lift your right leg, bend it at the knee and rest the right foot against your left inner thigh. The sole of your feet should lie flat against your thigh and your heel should touch your perineum.

  • Make sure your left leg can take your weight and you are well-balanced.

  • Once you have steadied yourself, inhale deeply, raise both your arms and join your palms above your head as if in prayer.

  • Fix your gaze straight ahead at a distant object. Keep your gaze steady to maintain balance.

  • Keep your spine straight and take long breaths.

Let PM Narendra Mod himself teach you how to perform the pose:

Just like not all yoga pose is for everybody, Vrikshasana should be avoided by people having health issues such as vertigo, arthritis, migraine, low or high blood pressure and insomnia should avoid performing this yogasana.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2019 01:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).