International Yoga Day - 2016

~ namaste ~ 

The Divine in Me recognizes the Divine in You.

Yoga originated in ancient India and incorporates physical, mental and spiritual practice that involves controlled breathing, body positions (poses), and meditation for the purpose of well-being ~ connecting the mind, body, spirit; liberation ~ self-awareness and self-fulfillment; and realization ~ the feeling and understanding of oneness with all sentient beings. 

Although the practice of yoga was not intended as physical exercise, the effects on the body and the mind are much like other forms of exercise. A yoga practitioner will experience greater flexibility, balance and control ~ and may even see positive changes to their body, such as weight loss and body toning.

Yoga has many varying types and levels, ranging from beginner to prenatal to strenuous. Examples include Hatha, Vinyasa, Nidra, Ashtanga and many more. For more information, click here. I'll also post some links to podcasts and provide some books that might be helpful in the resources pages of the blog.

The International Yoga Day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. Narendra Modi, India's Prime Minister, spoke before the UNGA and suggested that June 21st should be the officially recognized date, since it's the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere:

"Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. This tradition is 5000 years old. 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. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well-being. Let us work toward adopting an International Yoga Day." ~ Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India 

 The United Nations website has a page dedicated to this official observance of Yoga, with a statement from the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, "This year's observance of the International Day of Yoga highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 United Nations Member States."

As B.K.S. Iyengar famously stated, "Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."

Make everyday a new possibility to find your center; to balance the mind, body and spirit; to find the intersection of consciousness and universe.

~ namaste ~