Yoga fans around world take to their mats for first International Yoga Day

[bananas]

Source: Guardian

Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, led world record attempt in New Delhi for largest single yoga class

Millions of yoga enthusiasts stretched and twisted in unison across India and much of the world on Sunday to mark the first International Yoga Day.

Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, who had lobbied the UN to declare 21 June as global yoga day, spread his mat among rows of people – including his cabinet members and foreign diplomats – at New Delhi’s main thoroughfare, which had been transformed into one sprawling exercise area.

Thousands of people dressed in white sat on yellow mats under the Eiffel Tower, and similar events were held around the world, including in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Beijing and Manila.

“We are not only celebrating a day, but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony,” Modi told participants. “This is a program for the benefit of mankind, for a tension-free world and to spread the message of harmony.”

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/21/yoga-fans-world-first-international-yoga-day

[leftofcool]

1. Yoga is awesome.

Best thing I ever did for self.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Namaste, leftofcool. You should enjoy this compilation...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026875023

Welcome to the PEACE and BLISS - NAMASTE WORLD! - WORLD YOGA DAY June 21, 2015

Incredible photos show millions all over the world taking part in the International Day of Yoga.

6,000-year-old call of OM rings out around the planet.

[leftofcool]

5. Those photos are fabulous!

I miss my Yoga class. Since we retired and moved away from the DC area, I have not been able to find a class less that 150 miles from me. That is too far to drive for me now. I don't mind practicing on my own but I miss being with others of like mind.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. There are some good yoga instructors on YouTube and on DVD!

[leftofcool]

12. Yes, I have some DVD's.

[cosmicone]

14. Bonsoir Surya :)

Namaste tatha shanti om

[Surya Gayatri]

15. Bonsoir, mon ami. Comment va?

OM Shanti OM

[cosmicone]

18. Je vais bien ..

et toi? Même?

Après une longue période......

[Surya Gayatri]

19. Ben oui, j'avais d'autres chats à fouter ! Pour ainsi dire...

De façon figurative, bien sur ! LOL!

[cosmicone]

20. Mais oui..

les hommes ne peuvent pas être des poissons de cours...

[bananas]

3. Companies observe Yoga Day

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-companies-observe-yoga-day-2097597

Companies observe Yoga Day
Sunday, 21 June 2015 - 5:07pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI

Top officials and employees of state-owned companies such as SBI and NMDC on Sunday participated in the first International Yoga Day.

"State Bank of India (SBI) on Sunday celebrated International Yoga Day across the country," country's largest lender said in a statement.

The main function was held at the Bank's corporate centre in Mumbai where SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, performed yoga along with top management of the Bank, its employees and their family members, the statement said.

Bhattacharya said: "Yoga spreads the message of peace and is very beneficial to health. Yoga helps us refocus our attention in a stressful life. People need to have good health to enjoy life as nothing else is as important as health.

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[bananas]

4. In Kerala, a Church Service that Included Yoga

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-kerala-a-church-service-that-included-yoga-773840?ndtv_nextstory

In Kerala, a Church Service that Included Yoga
All India | Written by Sneha Mary Koshy | Updated: June 21, 2015 16:39 IST

Thiruvananthapuram: The service at Ebenezer Marthoma Church had started on a usual note this Sunday -- with worship, offering and the holy communion. But what followed was unprecedented: a yoga session, during the service and inside church, with an in-house Christian yoga guru.

The chanting included "Amen" - word uttered at the end of prayer, meaning "so be it" and Yeshu (the name of Jesus Christ) giving "Om" a miss.

The church in rural Punaloor, 69 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, set itself apart from other mainstream churches by initiating its members into various asanas on the first International Yoga Day - an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The yoga guru, KK Johnson, is a practicing Christian who first was introduced to yoga in a Christian ashram in Manganam nearly 30 years ago.

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[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. And, "it's not over 'til it's over" ...

--- Yogi Berra

Celebrating yoga and yogis until not.

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Great find! Love it!

[bananas]

8. Southern Naval Command conducts yoga programmes

http://www.niticentral.com/2015/06/21/southern-naval-command-conducts-yoga-programmes-319201.html

Southern Naval Command conducts yoga programmes
Author: Niti PTI Bot - June 21, 2015

Kochi, Jun 21 (PTI) The Southern Naval Command, which is geographically spread over seven states and Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, today conducted various programmes on yoga, including beach yoga, to popularise it among Naval personnel and spread awareness of its benefits.

To follow up on activities undertaken on World Yoga Day today, the Southern Naval Command will continue to conduct Yoga awareness programmes in the coming weeks and months, the Navy said in a release.

"The Indian Navy led by Naval Headquarters at Delhi and all the commands including the Andaman & Nicobar Command, ships and establishments across the country are fully geared up and committed to adopt Yoga in the day-to-day life," it said.

At Kochi, Yoga camp for naval personnel, families and children was conducted

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[bananas]

9. On World Yoga Day, PM Modi cautions against 'commodifying' the practice

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/pm-leads-yoga-day-celebrations-cautions-against-commodifying-the-practice/

On World Yoga Day, PM Modi cautions against ‘commodifying’ the practice

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned against "commodifying" yoga, saying using it as some sort of business will do great damage to this world heritage.

By: Press Trust of India | New Delhi | Updated: June 21, 2015 4:28 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned against “commodifying” yoga, saying using it as some sort of business will do great damage to this world heritage.

Inaugurating the first international conference on yoga for holistic health here, Modi also said yoga is a medium to check greed, violence, cost of health care and conflicts and also a means to enhance effective team work and maintaining ecological balance.

“If we make yoga a commodity, then maximum damage to it will be done by us. Yoga is not a commodity, yoga is not a brand which has to be sold,” he said cautioning against oneupmanship on the issue, insisting that the ancient practice does not belong to any one person, community or the country but to the whole world.

Drawing attention to boards of “pure ghee” shops in the market, Modi said that 50 years back these were never seen but today they are because money is there.

“This should never happen in relation to yoga. Never should a time come when we hear that only my yoga is true and all the rest are uselessly holding their nose and spending dollars. This is not a trade or organisation but a state of mind (vyapaar ya vyavastha nahin avastha hai).

“This (yoga) is the contribution from the soil of India for the good of human beings. People outside India have also worked on it. We have to acknowledge this. We should not seize it as our fiefdom (bapouti). This belongs to the whole world,” the Prime Minister said addressing the inaugural session of the two-day conference being attended by delegates of 26 countries.

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[bananas]

10. 5 Ailments You Didn't Know Yoga Could Treat

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ailments-yoga-treat/story?id=25897715

5 Ailments You Didn't Know Yoga Could Treat
By AMANDA MACMILLAN
Oct 3, 2014, 3:39 AM ET

Downward dog devotees swear that yoga helps them tone up and chill out—and certainly, the mind-body benefits of a regular practice have been well documented. But the ancient art of breathing paired with movement can also be a treatment for very specific health problems, both physical and emotional.

“Yoga enhances human health,” says Loren Fishman, M.D., a rehabilitation specialist and assistant clinical professor at Columbia University Medical Center, who studied yoga in India under world-famous yogi B.K.S. Iyengar and prescribes Iyengar yoga regularly to his patients. “Combinations and adaptations of poses bring different ways to confront different problems.”

Unlike medications or high-tech physical therapy, Dr. Fishman says, yoga is inexpensive and has few negative side effects. Plus, he adds, “yoga’s asana are memorable, can be practiced on your own, and are fulfilling in truly marvelous ways.” So in honor of Yoga Awareness Month, here are five common injuries, ailments, or chronic conditions for which a little “om” may help bring some relief.

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[bananas]

11. Will boycott BJP-sponsored yoga drama, says Congress

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Will-boycott-BJP-sponsored-yoga-drama-says-Congress/articleshow/47756808.cms

Will boycott BJP-sponsored yoga drama, says Congress

Suchandana Gupta,TNN | Jun 21, 2015, 03.17 PM IST

BHOPAL: After Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi decided to stay away from International Yoga Day celebrations on Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders and workers unanimously chose to boycott the event, calling it Narendra Modi's image-shining exercise. State Congress leaders in the state claimed they perform yoga as part of their health regime regularly. But joining the BJP initiated ritual was not permissible.

Congress leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare claimed, "My physiotherapist comes every morning at 8 and I have to do yoga before him. It is my daily routine which I undertake either at home or at gym. As usual I will do my yoga 'asanas' for 45 minutes, but will not be part of the Lal Parade Ground BJP government sponsored yoga."

Asked if orders have been issued from 24, Akbar Road to refrain from joining yoga celebrations, Katare clarified, "AICC has not issued any directive. Everyone in Congress knows that AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh gets up at 5 am for yoga. We are not against yoga, but BJP's propaganda. And who does yoga `asanas' on the road? Yoga is a phenomenon close to meditation, it needs privacy and isolation. The BJP's functions are more drama than yoga."

State Congress vice-president Manak Agarwal will also perform his 45-minutes yoga at his home on Sunday morning, but will not go out to celebrate publicly. "In the party office, all of us including workers have decided not to be part of the government programme. We are happy the United Nations has declared an International Yoga Day, but it should not have been a one-party function. People from all religions and caste, creed should have been part of Yoga Day and not just a BJP event. The party has failed to perform and this yoga day has been formulated to divert public attention from non-performance of the government," he argued.

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[LiberalElite]

13. They've been doing yoga in Times Sq. NYC on

the summer solstice for several years:

https://www.google.com/search?q=yoga+times+square&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sLSGVemGHYWFyQS2rpGYBg&ved=0CFIQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=763

[Surya Gayatri]

17. Of course, there had to be YOGA CATS! LOL!