First International Yoga Day set for Sunday night

Come celebrate the first International Yoga Day, Sunday, June 21, at 6 p.m. in the Gazebo at the south end of Station Beach, Kincardine. This community event will feature free yoga instructions, followed by free samosas.
 

Dec. 11, 2014 the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the official International Day of Yoga. An ancient spiritual practice of Indian (Bharat) origin, yoga aims to transform the body and mind, and has been hailed for its ability to cure many diseases.

The declaration came after the current Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, called for the adoption of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Modi stated, "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work toward adopting an International Yoga Day.”

As the renowned Yoga guru Baba Ramdevji always says, "Good health is our birthright."
 

Organizations around the world are working together so the message of yoga can be made available to all. The message is universal in its appeal: reduces stress, provides peace, mental clarity, vibrant health and happiness, and improves relationships. In an age of such rich cultural diversity, it becomes critical to promote harmony and interconnectedness. Yoga, an art form with the proven ability to transcend all boundaries, can become the vehicle to bring people together and encourage harmonious relationships between people of all ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
 

The practice of yoga is nothing new in the west – people have learned of its transformative abilities when it comes to achieving physical well-being or mental equilibrium. While this may be the generation that enjoys the most comforts and conveniences, it is certainly not the most peaceful or joyful. Much like we utilize science and technology to develop tools for external comforts, we should make use of this ancient practice to help us attain inner satisfaction.

Yoga seems to have reached a tipping point in America, and is fully accepted by mainstream institutions. In the last few years, the Smithsonian Institute mounted a national exhibit on Yoga: The Art of Transformation; Loyola Marymount University launched the first Masters Degree in Yoga Studies; and an elected representative to American Congress took the oath on the Bhagavad Gita, a classic Yogic scripture.

Today, about two-billion people worldwide are practising some form of yoga, and this number continues to grow every day. In the United States, alone, more than 10 per cent of the population practises yoga, and businesses relating to yoga generate in excess of $30-billion annually.
 

Celebrate Yoga Day and Father's Day, Sunday, June 21, at Station Beach, Kincardine.