Count Down Begins to a Record-Breaking International Yoga Day

A staggering 37,000 yoga mats will be spread along Rajpath and at the verdant lawns around India Gate on June 21st. The first ever International Yoga Day will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead the nation while 192 other countries across the world will participate in what will be a global endorsement of this ancient Indian discipline.(Pull Out Your Mats: Different Types of Yoga and Their Many Health Benefits)India will seek to break a few records on the day, besides the largest yoga gathering at a single spot with 37,000 people performing different yogic asanas. More than 50 diplomats are expected to be a part of the yoga event at Rajpath. Yoga events would be observed in 192 of 193 countries across the world with the only exception being that of Yemen that currently grapples with a civil war.(Government to Rope In Celebrities for International Yoga Day Event)The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga following a proposal by Prime Minister Modi during his speech at the UNGA on September 27 last year. The resolution for the Yoga Day was cosponsored by 175 of the 193 member nations in a short period of 75 days. Forty seven of the 56 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries too joined as co-sponsors. While Pakistan did not co-sponsor, it did not object to the resolution either.(Yoga for Beginners: What I Learned From My First Yoga Class)External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be travelling to New York on the 19th of this month to preside over the headline event where 30,000 people are expected to participate in a mass demonstration of yoga at Times Square. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to deliver the keynote address at the start of the day's celebrations at the UN headquarters.(The Truth About Yoga: 5 Myths That Are Just Silly)The mega preparations for the event in the national capital have begun in right earnest, with Rajpath cordoned off and a huge stage set up at the crossing. All 150 foreign missions have been given invites for the event. Participants, including government officials, members of the National Cadet Corps and school children would perform various asanas during the event.(Yoga Does Not Discriminate, It Brings Satisfaction: UN Chief)The event will commence by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech followed by the performance of asanas. AYUSH ministry is the one behind organizing the celebration along with the ministry of external affairs. At the events held across the world, yoga gurus from established yoga schools would preside over the function which will be broadcast via web linkup.(Modi's Yoga Drive Takes Aim at Bad Habits and Bellies of India's Capital)The major yoga schools associated with the event are Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation, which runs around 150 centres across the world, the Isha Foundation, the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Institute, Patanjanli International Yoga Foundation and the Gayatri Pariwar. All participants would be required to know the Common Yoga Protocol beforehand and would have practised the asanas before attending the June 21 event.The asanas are divided into different sections, beginning with the loosening up exercises, like neck bending and body twisting. The second section of asanas done in Standing Posture will comprise six yoga exercises including Tadasana or palm tree posture and Vriksasana or the tree posture.(Stress Buster: Yoga is What You Need for a Healthy Mind)The third section is of Sitting Postures with five asanas will include Sasankasana, or the hare posture and Vakrasana, or spinal twist posture. Then will come three Prone Postures, including Bhujangasana or the Cobra Posture. This shall be followed by the Supine Postures, which will include three asanas including the Setubandhasana or the bridge posture, Pavanmuktasana or wind releasing posture and finally the Savasana or the dead body posture. Breathing exercises like Kapalbhati and Pranayama will follow along with a spot of dhyan or meditation and finally the Shanti Path.A two-day international yoga conference will be held in Delhi following the event.