International Yoga Day Journey: From Wheelchair to World Records, Krishna Guruji Brought Yoga to the Last Person in Society
For the past 11 years, every International Yoga Day has been dedicated to including marginalized and underserved sections of society in the practice of yoga. This year, the celebration will be held with inmates at Bhairavgarh Jail in Ujjain.
Ujjain: While most people view International Yoga Day as a one-day event, Krishna Guruji (Krishnakant Mishra) has transformed it into a movement for social change. Living with 50% physical disability himself, Krishna Guruji has never regarded yoga merely as a means of improving health. Instead, he has promoted it as a tool for building self-confidence, self-respect, and social inclusion.
On June 21, 2026, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Krishna Guruji will celebrate Yoga Day with inmate brothers at Bhairavgarh Jail in Ujjain. He believes that yoga is not only a means to keep the body healthy but also a powerful way to guide the mind and thoughts in a positive direction.
With this vision, this year’s yoga program is being organized inside the prison so that the inmates may also receive the message of self-transformation, inner growth, and the possibility of a new beginning.
International Yoga Day has been a significant part of Krishna Guruji’s mission to bring yoga and wellness to people from all walks of life. Through innovative and inclusive programs, Guruji has demonstrated that yoga is not limited by age, profession, location, or physical ability.
Yoga Transformed Krishna Guruji’s Own Life
Following a brain tumor surgery in 1982, Krishna Guruji experienced paralysis and faced numerous challenges throughout his life. Despite having one side of his body affected, he refused to give up. Through yoga, pranayama, and positive thinking, he gradually developed greater physical strength and mental resilience.
Krishna Guruji says that yoga instilled self-confidence within him. This personal transformation inspired him to make a commitment when International Yoga Day was launched in 2015—to bring yoga to those who are often overlooked and underserved by society.
Watch the Complete International Yoga Day Journey
Highlights from the various International Yoga Day programs organized between 2015 and 2026 can be viewed in this special YouTube playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhhjKzFN1OBfsk0TLWR-WPzj8Xax-ybgf&si=bcN-ierFlmOKkb8B
Eleven Years of an Inspiring Yoga Journey
2015 – Yoga on Wheels
In the very first year of International Yoga Day, Krishna Guruji launched the country’s first “Yoga on Wheels” initiative. Through simple yoga practices performed while seated in cars, trains, and chairs, he conveyed a powerful message: yoga is not only for the healthy and physically able—it is for everyone.
2016 – Symbolic Yoga at the Airport
When permission to conduct a yoga demonstration on an aircraft was not granted, Krishna Guruji performed a symbolic yoga session at the airport instead. Through this act, he demonstrated that yoga is not dependent on a specific location, venue, or stage. Yoga is a way of life that can be practiced anywhere.
2017 – Yoga with the Beggars of Mahakal
In Ujjain, Krishna Guruji conducted a yoga session with beggars living around the Mahakal Temple area, connecting yoga with human values and dignity. The program aimed to demonstrate that yoga can lead individuals toward self-respect and self-reliance.
2018 – World Record at Kailash Mansarovar
During the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, Krishna Guruji conducted yoga sessions at an altitude of approximately 11,940 feet above sea level. He taught pilgrims techniques to cope with reduced oxygen levels and altitude-related challenges. The event was also recognized as a unique world-record achievement.
2019 – Yoga with Joy Cruise in the United States
The “Yoga with Joy Cruise” program, organized aboard a cruise ship in the United States, brought international recognition to the significance of Indian yoga. Conducted in the middle of the ocean, the event symbolized the global reach and universal appeal of yoga.
2020 – Yoga with the Transgender Community
During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online yoga session was organized for the transgender community for the first time. The initiative aimed to extend the benefits of yoga to a section of society that is often marginalized and excluded from mainstream activities.
2021 – 26-Hour Global Yoga Marathon
A 26-hour online yoga marathon was organized from Gisborne, New Zealand, to Oslo, Norway. The event brought together COVID warriors, persons with disabilities, and participants from various countries. It served as a powerful message of global unity and collective well-being through yoga. This online yoga journey spanning 9 countries and approximately 17,478 kilometers, recognized by the Golden Book of World Records. The event connected participants worldwide through digital platforms and showcased the unifying power of yoga.
2022 – Yoga with Railway Porters
International Yoga Day was celebrated with railway porters at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in New Delhi. Participants learned how yoga and pranayama can help reduce physical fatigue, improve health, and support individuals engaged in demanding physical labor. This special special International Yoga Day program for more than 200 railway porters at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in New Delhi. Participants learned practical breathing techniques and yoga practices that could be incorporated into their demanding daily work routines. The initiative emphasized wellness, dignity, and community service.
2023 – Yoga on the Vande Bharat Express
Krishna Guruji conducted seated yoga sessions with passengers aboard the Vande Bharat Express, transforming every coach into a part of the Yoga Day celebration. This innovative approach to practicing yoga while traveling received widespread appreciation from participants. The program highlighted the message that yoga can be practiced anywhere and by anyone.
2024 – Yoga Day Despite a Fracture
Even after sustaining a fracture during his stay in the United States, Krishna Guruji continued his commitment to yoga by organizing an online International Yoga Day event. The initiative became a remarkable example of dedication, perseverance, and devotion to the practice of yoga.
2025 – Yoga with Leprosy Patients
For the first time, leprosy patients were included in an International Yoga Day program. The event conveyed a strong message of inclusion, compassion, and humanity, reinforcing the principle that yoga recognizes no discrimination or social barriers.
2026 – Yoga with Inmate Brothers at Bhairavgarh Jail
This year’s International Yoga Day will be celebrated at Bhairavgarh Jail in Ujjain. The program aims to inspire inmate brothers toward positive thinking, self-transformation, personal growth, and successful reintegration into society.
The Yoga Vaccine Campaign
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Krishna Guruji launched the “Yoga Vaccine” campaign, through which thousands of people were connected to online yoga and pranayama sessions. Through adaptive yoga for persons with disabilities, breath-based therapies, and various pranayama techniques, he helped raise awareness about physical and mental well-being during a challenging period.
Yoga Connects More Than the Body—It Connects Society
Krishna Guruji believes that the true purpose of yoga extends far beyond physical fitness. Yoga connects an individual with oneself, strengthens family bonds, and ultimately fosters a deeper connection with society. This belief inspired him to establish a tradition of celebrating International Yoga Day each year with a different underserved and often overlooked community.
Krishna Guruji’s Core Message
“Yoga is not merely the art of bending the body; it is a means of bringing society together. My effort has always been to take yoga to those whom society often fails to reach.”
Krishna Guruji’s Yoga Day initiatives emphasize that yoga is more than physical exercise. Through breath awareness, meditation, and mindful movement, yoga becomes a tool for improving physical health, mental balance, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth. His programs focus on making yoga accessible to ordinary people in their everyday environments.
Vision
The journey reflects the spirit of “Yoga for Humanity”—using yoga as a means to serve society, connect communities, and promote harmony across cultures and nations. Through both online and in-person initiatives, Krishna Guruji continues to encourage people to integrate simple yogic practices into daily life for greater health, awareness, and inner peace.
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Conclusion
What began as a journey from a wheelchair has evolved into an inspiring movement marked by world records, international initiatives, and powerful examples of social inclusion. This International Yoga Day journey demonstrates that when yoga is linked with service, compassion, and humanity, it transcends being merely a practice and becomes a catalyst for social transformation.
Krishna Guruji’s eleven-year journey stands as a testament to the idea that yoga is for everyone—regardless of physical ability, social status, profession, circumstance, or background—and that its greatest strength lies in its power to unite, uplift, and inspire humanity.
