YIDL celebrates International Day of Yoga 2022 around the world – part 1
This is the 8th year that the International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated around the world, since the first occasion on 21 June 2015. In recognition of the unexpected human tragedy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's celebration was given the theme, "Yoga for Humanity".
Yoga practice has a boosting impact on the immune system and also balances the nervous system, helping to relieve stress and anxiety, and build resilience. Consequently, starting or continuing yoga practice has been highly beneficial in helping people endure the difficult physical, mental and social circumstances caused by the pandemic, over the past couple of years.
On the International Day of Yoga, thousands of people celebrated with Yoga in Daily Life – from Oceania and Asia to Europe and the Americas. Wherever there are Yoga in Daily Life centres in the world, there were yoga events, classes and vegetarian picnics for this special occasion.
Here is a brief overview of how International Day of Yoga was celebrated in just some of the many Yoga in Daily Life locations around the world – in two parts.
Click here for Part 2
Czechia
STŘÍLKY – MAHAPRABHUDIP ASHRAM
On 19 June, the sun rose and shone down on the green meadows of Střílky, where yoga, meditation and mantra singing have been practised for 50 years.
This residential yoga retreat centre in the countryside, with its very special atmosphere, gave a perfect place for the celebration of Yoga, and on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, H.H. Vishwaguru Swami Maheshwarananda, founder of Yoga in Daily Life, and special guest H.E. Hemant Kotalwar, Ambassador of India to the Czech Republic, were present to take part in the special events.
The programme included lectures, yoga demonstrations, yoga practice and children's programmes.
KUTNÁ HORA
On 16 June, the IDY celebrations took place in Kutná Hora with the participation of the Secretary of the Indian Embassy, Mr Dasse, and his entourage. Participants practised exercises according to the Yoga in Daily Life system.
On 21 June, a public yoga session took place in Zbraslavice, in the Kutná Hora region.
BÍLOVEC
On 21 June, people celebrated IDY with a program led by experienced instructor Vilém Vivékpuri Laschober. A demonstration of a yoga class was performed – including relaxation, asanas, pranayama and mantras. Then vegetarian snacks were served.
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV
On the IDY, people gathered together indoors and outside to practise yoga. The exercises were designed for all ages and there was also a special yoga programme for children.
India
In the 75th anniversary year of Independence in India, IDY2022 was celebrated with programmes in several Yoga in Daily Life ashrams in India.
JADAN ASHRAM
At the OM Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwaranand Ashram in Jadan, Rajasthan, special free classes were provided for ashram residents and people living in the local area.
BARI KHATU ASHRAM
Swami Chandrapuri, from Sri Deepeshwar Mahadev Shiv Bag Ashram in Bari Khatu, gave a free yoga, pranayama and meditation class for students at the nearby government senior secondary school.
Austria
Practitioners of Yoga in Daily Life have marked the 8th International Day of Yoga in their regular and special classes throughout Austria. There were some programmes organised by Yoga in Daily Life Societies together with the Indian Embassy in Austria and the UN Headquarters in Vienna, and also in Salzburg, Eisenstadt (Burgenland) and Stockerau (Lower Austria).
There were two main celebrations in Vienna, first on Sunday 19 June, at Park Prater and also two days later, on the actual International Day of Yoga, in Vienna International Centre (VIC), which is the UN Headquarters in Vienna.
IDY was also celebrated on 25 June in Salzburg at the Hellbrunn Palace Park, upon the invitation of the Embassy of India, Vienna.
The yoga programme provided for the day, as prepared by the Indian Ministry of Yoga and Ayurveda, is varied and can be done by anyone. The participants were very enthusiastic about the exercises and were able to take the positive momentum from the exercises home with them.
Australia
ONLINE
Yoga in Daily Life Australia organised four free online webinars on four Saturdays in the month of June, each dedicated to one of the four pillars of Yoga in Daily Life: Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual Health, and broadcast respectively from Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Brisbane.
SYDNEY
Yoga in Daily Life for Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual Wellbeing was a 'curtain-raiser event' organised by Yoga in Daily Life Sydney in cooperation with the Consulate General of India, held on Monday 6th June 2022 at the Consulate General of India Sydney. Around 30 participants enjoyed the lecture, which included some easy yoga techniques.
A special weekend workshop with the topic of 'Build your resilience' was organised by the Australian First Responder Foundation (AFRF) in cooperation with teachers from Yoga in Daily Life Sydney, on June 17-19 2022, in Wyong, rural NSW.
BRISBANE
In Brisbane, IDY was celebrated on Sunday 19 June with a special free event: The Ultimate Sequence for the wellbeing of body, mind and soul – Khatu Pranam. With the contribution of local YIDL teachers, the event covered all the different ways of how Khatu Pranam can be practised and gave an introduction to the:
- physical benefits
- pranayama – practised in coordination with the breath
- chakras – practised with concentration on the chakras
- mantras – practised chanting the Peace Mantra
It was a beautiful day to celebrate together the many benefits of Yoga and Khatu Pranam with an amazing group of people filling up the yoga hall.
MELBOURNE
As well as providing the 18 June online webinar on the topic of Yoga for Social Health, YIDL teachers in Melbourne provided free in-person yoga classes and meditation sessions on Tuesday 21 June.
PERTH
Students were happy and grateful to enjoy a special free Seniors Yoga session in celebration of IDY, in Perth, Western Australia.
Canada
On Sunday, 19 June (Fathers' Day), the International Day of Yoga was celebrated on a meadow in Granville Island Market, a popular tourist destination in Vancouver. The children are blessed with a playground right there in the park. The majority of those who attended are new online yoga students and they were very excited to practise in person, meet other students and get to know YIDL and the teachers. The programme was enjoyed by all with a vegetarian lunch of samosas, noodles with vegetables, and fruits.
This programme was organised by the joint effort of YIDL Society members, teachers and some students. Everyone enjoyed the yoga, friendship and the beautiful atmosphere and students were asking for more outdoor yoga programmes like this.
China
On 19 June, being a weekend and also Father's Day, the occasion of International Yoga Day was celebrated by students in Haikou, Chengdu and Wuhan in the open air. The sun was shining in all cities. The event was simultaneously celebrated by students from Shanghai, Peking, Hangjou and many other cities, who joined online at 7.30am local time. Haikou and Changdu (led by yoga teacher Chandra Devi) were giving instructions and led the students in the park, while broadcasting live on Zoom, so on-screen students could also follow along. Surya, Savitri and Om organised the event with lunch in Haikou led by student 敏 (Mǐn).
New Zealand
Teachers, students and members of the YIDL Society of New Zealand celebrated International Day of Yoga with free classes in ashrams and venues in Auckland City and North Shore, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast.
