Peak Resilience: ITBP Himveers Practice Yoga at 14,000 Feet Near Pangong Tso
Personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) marked the 12th International Day of Yoga by conducting a mass session at an altitude of nearly 14,000 feet in eastern Ladakh. Organized by the ITBP’s 47 Battalion, the event took place on the banks of Pangong Tso, a prominent high-altitude saltwater lake. Set against a rugged Himalayan backdrop and exposed to freezing weather conditions, the high-altitude practice highlighted the remarkable physical endurance and mental fortitude of the border forces.
Popularly referred to as “Himveers,” these security personnel utilize yoga as a core part of their wellness routine to cope with the extreme psychological and physical demands of guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The ITBP noted that practicing yoga at these heights reinforces the troops’ operational readiness, focus, and stress management while stationed at isolated, snow-bound outposts. Celebrated globally every June 21, this year’s International Day of Yoga follows the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” with nationwide events anchored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship gathering at Red Road in Kolkata.
