International Day of Yoga is a relatively new holiday. But it’s a day dedicated to the restorative nature of yoga, with a focus on it as a physical & mental practice. Yoga Day came about in 2014, when the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, proposed the holiday to the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he said yoga:
“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 towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
The UNGA agreed, and in December of that year, passed a resolution making June 21 the International Day of Yoga.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for Peace.” So to find some inner peace that you can exude into this world, and because it’s the first day of summer, let’s connect it all with a simple Sun Salutation flow:
- Mountain Pose: stand at the front of your mat, feet slightly apart, stretch your arms down with palms turned out
- Upward Salute: breathe in, sweeping your arms up overhead, bringing your hands together with palms facing each other
- Standing Forward BEND: breathe out, folding forward so that your hands come to the floor/feet
- Half Standing Forward BEND: breathe in, raising your head as your bring your fingers up your shin to rest on your knees
- High Lunge: breathe out, bringing your hands back down to the mat. Breathe in again, then as you breathe out, step your right foot back into a lunge, breathing in as you raise yourself up & bring your hands overhead
- Downward Facing Dog: breathe out as you bring your hands down to the mat, stepping your left foot back, as you push your hips up (think of an upside down V)
- Plank: breathe in as you straighten your back, making yourself parallel to the mat/floor
- Chaturanga: breathe out, BEND your elbows, lowering yourself down to the mat
- Upward Facing Dog: breathe in as you straighten your arms, raising your chest off the mat with a slight arch to your back, feet parallel to (or on) the mat
- Downward Facing Dog: breathe out as you pull your hips back into down dog
Balance yourself out by repeating steps 5-10, starting with your left foot stepping back. Feel free to end the pose by with:
- Standing Forward BEND
- Half Standing Forward BEND
- Standing Forward BEND
- Upward Salute
- Mountain Pose
Learn more & read the UN Resolution by visiting the United Nations website: click here. For more on Bend Active, visit us at www.bendactive.com & joining the mailing list.
Plus, keep an eye out for the opening of our second location in Dublin – coming this