A Day to Remember the Importance of Peace

In 1981, the United Nations declared September 21 as the International Day of Peace to be observed around the world annually. This momentous day provides an opportunity for all of humanity to leave all differences at the door and come together as one body to focus on building a worldwide culture of peace.

Finding Peace on Your Yoga Mat

Yoga practice, at its core, embodies what it means to be at peace both with yourself and your surroundings. It is a way of living life on and off the mat. Yoga teaches you to be at peace with your inner soul while showing that same essence of love and peace to those around you. One of the foundational principles of all forms of yoga is ahimsa, part of the first yama in the Yoga Sutras, a Sanskrit word meaning “nonharming” or “nonviolence.”

Here are a few fun facts about this day of peace!

Moment of Silence

The Moment of Silence, or Minute of Silence, was established in 1984 as a way to commemorate International Day of Peace. At noon, in each time zone around the world, there is a Moment of Silence to initiate a “Peace Wave” globally. Every individual, community and nation is encouraged to participate in this peaceful act.

2018 Most Peaceful Country in the World

Iceland comes in first as the most peaceful country in the world according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. You might be surprised to know that this is actually the tenth year in a row that Iceland has garnered this title! This nation of 350,000 citizens has no standing army, navy or air force and is the smallest of any NATO member state. Icelanders enjoy record-low crime rates and consider tension between economic classes to be non-existent.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner

In 2017, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The organization was recognized for its work to bring to light the consequences of nuclear weapons on humanity and for efforts to accomplish a treaty-based prohibition of these weapons. This year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced on Friday, October 5.

Take this day as an opportunity to reflect on what peace means to you and what kind of peaceful impact you can have on yourself and your community. Whether it’s a few more minutes on your yoga mat, or taking the time to make a difference in someone else’s life, International Day of Peace is a day for reflection and change.