A Celebration of Yoga

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

People in our villages are celebrating the International Day of Yoga as it unfolds today. Yoga classes along with awareness marches and sessions will happen until this evening. An ancient tradition of India, yoga is now practised around the world as a source of health benefits, peace of mind, and–ultimately–joy in life. The International Day of Yoga is a global event organised by the United Nations.

The rest of the year, we are teaching yoga asana and meditation practices in our communities on a daily basis, and it is clear that the return to this gift from our heritage is awakening a passion in the people. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness. For the villagers, it helps instil a sense of calm and peace during a time of great challenges in daily life—things like access to proper nutrition, clean water, available education and stable income.

Upon calling people to class, be they women, men or children, the students come quickly. For them, they do not need trendy off-the-shelf “yoga clothes”. They simply begin in saris, suits, school uniforms and pants alike.