Special celebrations at Raj Bhavan for Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and staff

Multiple sessions over 300 locations covering institutions like the Singapore High Commission, Muscat High Commission, IIT Bombay, University of Hyderabad, others

Online Yoga health camps for women and senior citizens 

Guidance to media outlets to spread the message of Yoga

Mumbai, June 21, 2021 (GPN): The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai, has rolled out a major celebration of ‘International Day of Yoga 2021’ which comprises of multiple initiatives to promote the awareness, adoption and importance of classical yoga, particularly in these trying times of the pandemic-enforced lockdown. The Institute organized video events as well as media offerings touching upon different teachings of Yoga and how to incorporate those in one’s daily life. 

Institute Director and guide Dr. Hansaji Yogendra’s interaction with renowned speakers Shri Nitin Gadkari and Shri Shripad Naik headlined the celebrations, which also included other major initiatives like special celebrations at the Raj Bhavan for Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari and his staff; multiple sessions over 300 locations covering institutions like the Singapore High Commission, Muscat High Commission, IIT Bombay, and University of Hyderabad, to name a few; online Yoga health camps for women and senior citizens, and guidance to several media outlets to spread the message of the importance of Yoga.

While Minister for Road Transport & Highways and the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari shared his perspective on yoga and how yoga has been a part of his daily practice for decades., Sri Shripad Naik, who has been with the Ministry of Ayush for seven years and is now serving India in the Ministry of state for Defence, spoke about bringing lessons of balanced living through the practices of yoga. 

The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, also engaged in a special session at the Raj Bhavan, where Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari was in attendance along with his staff. With many industry experts on the special panel, The Yoga Institute opened the online platform through live talk sessions to throw light on the yogic lifestyle. 

The core focus of The Yoga Institute on this International Day of Yoga is aligning with the theme set by the ministry of AYUSH: ‘Be with yoga, be at home’. One does not need to go farther to experience the benefits of yoga. The founder strongly believed that yoga was meant to be a journey inwards and this journey begins right in the comforts of your home and mind. Dr. Hansaji Yogendra will share her simple and effective tips on staying safe at home but making Yoga a part of everyone’s first aid kit. 

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways and the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India, said, “The message of yoga is food for the soul that should be spread far and wide. I’d like to take a moment to thank our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji for having made yoga a people’s movement on an international level.  

“I commend the Yoga Institute for organising this event on a digital platform, thereby reaching out to a wider global audience. A major thank you to Hansa ji for creating such an all-encompassing,  holistic syllabus, and producing so many yoga teachers for the world. As someone who has been practising yoga daily for decades, I can vouch for it. This International Day of Yoga, let us all promise to take out at least one hour of time for our yoga practice. I have made it a way of my living for many decades. It keeps me energetic throughout the day. It teaches us not only how to live our lives but also tells us what life is. It helps us have a complete personality,” Shri Gadkari said.

Shri Shripad Naik,  Minister Of State For  Defence and former Minister in AYUSH shares, “Yoga has always held a special place in my heart, having served as Minister of AYUSH for 7 years. I share a close bond with The Yoga Institute, having been associated with them for many years now. The Institute is working hard to bring this message of wellbeing to all, and I fully recognise, support and appreciate their efforts. 

“In the present scenario, Yoga is the only solution to keep our fears and worries at bay. And on this occasion of International Yoga Day, I urge each and every one of you to practice and spread the word of yoga by example. It’s like passing the light of a candle from one person to the next — before you know it, the whole country is shining bright with the light and message of Yoga,” Shri Naik said.

Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, Director, The Yoga Institute shares, “We are one of the core institutions which  laid the foundation of the first International Day of Yoga in India back in 2015. We are pleased to share that we have received the love and support of one million subscribers on YouTube, which we humbly acknowledge as a wonderful expression of the faith people are placing in yoga and our teachings. At present, we are living in a very physically and mentally tough and overwhelming environment. People are looking at Yoga and Mindfulness as one of the most important ways to achieve emotional peace, and to build immunity and strength. 

“On The International Day of Yoga, we feel privileged to have continued our unwavering mission of facilitating wellbeing through Yoga, and I am grateful that luminaries like Shri Nitin Gadkari, Shri Shripad Naik, Shri Koshiyari and other great experts have participated, along with other experts, to help us guide our citizens on diverse yoga lifestyle-led topics. 

“We shall continue to help inform and inspire people from every strata of society including students, government officials, women and senior citizens and media, about the power of Yoga and its great benefits to keep us healthy and empowered,” Dr Hansaji Yogendra said. 

Here are some of the initiatives The Yoga Institute has rolled out to celebrate ‘International Day of Yoga 2021’.

1. Interactive & Live Online Talk of Dr. Hansaji Yogendra and Sri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways and the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of Road.  
2. Interactive & Live Online Talk of Dr. Hansaji Yogendra and Sri Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Defence and former Minister of AYUSH. 
3. Special session at the Raj Bhavan with the Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari and his staff.
4. Online conversation on the beautiful connection between Yoga and staying safe in these COVID times by Dr. Hansaji Yogendra and leading media outlets. 
5. Held multiple sessions at more than 300 locations.
6. Online sessions including at institutions like Special Online Sessions with notable institutions like IIT Bombay, Singapore High Commission, Muscat High Commision, University of Hyderabad and Japan Tourism to name a few.
7. Special Online videos to educate the masses on Yoga lifestyle.

Keeping the giving spirit and tradition of the Institute alive, all the sessions were held at no charges,  and everyone was welcome to join them through the social media handles of The Yoga Institute, the world’s oldest institute of organized Yoga training. 

Founded in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji, The Yoga Institute,  Santacruz (East), Mumbai, imbued with the true spirit of Yoga, has been instrumental in bringing about a positive change worldwide, for more than 102 years now. It received the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga for the year 2018-19. The prestigious award was presented by Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi to Dr. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, Director – The Yoga Institute, in the category of “National Institute” at a special ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan 30 August 2019. ENDS