Celebrating the union of body, mind and soul, hundreds of yoga enthusiasts - including UN officials and staffers - filled the green expanse of the North Lawn at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mark the ninth celebration of the International Day of Yoga, observed each 21 June.
UN delegates and staffers spread out their yoga mats and stretched into various yoga “asanas” or poses, at an outdoor event on Monday evening at UN Headquarters in New York, to celebrate the eighth International Day of Yoga, observed annually on 21 June.
As the world continues to battle COVID-19, yoga offers a “unique” way to destress and boost immunity, allowing the mind and body to connect in a state of “cellular quiet”.
That’s according to Doctor Krishna Raman, who’s taking part in a major International Day of Yoga event on Monday, organized by the Indian mission to the UN.
The UN celebrates the sixth annual International Day of Yoga on 21 June, recognizing the ancient practice as a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and a powerful tool for dealing with the myriad stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic
The North Lawn of UN Headquarters was converted into a temporary yoga studio on Tuesday as UN staffers stretched their minds and bodies in honour of the International Day of Yoga.
Swami Sivadasananda led the guided yoga class on the newly-restored lawn, which until a few months ago, was home to a temporary office building.
Two billion people around the world practice yoga, fundamentally, “because it works” according to one leading guru from India.
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now practiced in various forms around the world.
Jaggi Vasudev was due to lead a session at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, to celebrate International Day of Yoga, marked annually on 21 June.
He spoke to Priscilla Lecomte ahead of the session.
Duration: 5'37"
The ancient practice of yoga represents the “breath of the eternal,” according to one of the world’s oldest practitioners.
Ninety-seven year old Tao Porchon-Lynch began learning yoga in India at age eight.
She’s visiting United Nations Headquarters to celebrate the second ever International Day of Yoga, marked annually on 21 June.
Laura Jarriel asked Ms Porchon-Lynch how yoga has changed during her lifetime.
Duration: 2'32"
More than two dozen students from the City Montessori School in Lucknow, India celebrated the first International Day of Yoga at UN Headquarters in New York.
It was the culmination of a school trip to the United States.
Two students, Sagarika and Amulya, both 16, were chosen to speak at the event after a number of government representatives and UN officials.
The ability to relieve stress through the exercise of yoga is being underlined on the first ever UN day dedicated to the ancient Indian practice.
The UN General Assembly recognized its universal appeal by proclaiming 21 June as International Yoga Day.
Yoga is now practiced across the world by millions of people.
Carla Garcia has been speaking to India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asoke Mukerji.
The first-ever observance of the International Day of Yoga will be held this Sunday, 21 June.
Yoga originated in India and the word means to join or unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Enthusiasts say they see parallels between the work of the United Nations and this physical, mental and spiritual practice.
Dianne Penn sat in on a yoga class at UN Headquarters and filed this report.
Duration: 3'11"
