India, June 21 -- O n International Day of Yoga today, actor Neha Dhupia reflects on a practice that has remained a constant through every chapter of her life. "If I start my day with yoga, I see how it catapults me emotionally, mentally and physically into my day," says the 45-year-old, who was introduced to the discipline more than two decades ago while preparing for Miss India in Delhi. Over the years, she says, the practice, which she calls her "foundation", has evolved alongside her through "every phase of life, from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to marathon training and motherhood". Dhupia is also quick to debunk one of the biggest myths around the practice: that it is less effective than more intense forms of exercise. "People think yoga is just a slow burn and that they need to lift weights for fitness. I'm not taking away from that at all, but the magic you get from exercising on that six-foot mat is something I realised very early in life," she says. The actor adds that people often underestimate yoga because it does not always leave them drenched in sweat. "Everyone feels that unless you sweat a lot or end up breathless, it's not really a workout. But yoga is immune system support, emotional support, mental support, physical support and strength training all rolled into one. Even if you're doing Surya Namaskar properly, you're handling breath work, flexibility and strength," she says. Dhupia also believes yoga influences lifestyle choices beyond the mat. "It's not just exercise. When I get my yoga practice right, I don't crave sugar or unhealthy food. I just feel like hydrating, eating healthy and taking care of myself," she says. Calling yoga one of India's greatest contributions to the world, Dhupia says it deserves far more appreciation at home. "It's an age-old practice that comes from India and something we should be proud of. If you travel anywhere, you'll find people marvelling at its goodness. There are yoga centres everywhere and people across the world want to learn and practise it, yet here everybody wants to do everything else but yoga," she says. The actor says her belief in yoga was reinforced by watching her father's discipline over the years. "My dad is almost 80 years old and, touch wood, he still does headstands. You can't fight that level of fitness," she says. As a mother of two, Dhupia adds that wellness has become a family affair. "We regularly visit Kaivalyadhama ashram with friends and family for two weeks. Everyone wants to go on holiday; my holiday starts with spending time there," she says. Yoga has also become an integral part of her children's lives. "Even my seven-year-old daughter, Mehr, knows how to do a headstand. Same for my four-year-old son, Guriq." For Dhupia, yoga remains the foundation of every other fitness practice she pursues: She ends with a reminder about self-connection: "If you're not in touch with your own breath, you can be in touch with anyone on Instagram and in direct messages, there's no use. It all starts with being connected to yourself."...