Indian Embassy Begins Series of Yoga Events in the United States

Ahead of the first International Yoga Day on June 21, the Indian Embassy in the United States has started a series of curtain-raiser events to raise awareness about the ancient Indian practice.At a talk on 'Nurturing Peace Through Yoga and Meditation',  Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasised on the relevance of Yoga in today's world, saying that it's not only about
making your body flexible but also making your mind flexible. The purpose of Yoga and meditation is to unite hearts and minds of people, he added.(Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wants Your Inputs for International Yoga Day)
Indian Embassy will collaborate with Yoga organisations, practitioners, and community organisations for a day-long event at the Mall on June 21. "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being," Charge d'Affaires Taranjit Singh Sandhu quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying at the UN last year.(Resolution Tabled to Recognise Yoga Day in NYC)"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 us deal with climate change," he added.The United Nations General Assembly had on December 11 adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as the 'International Day of Yoga'. It was passed within a record time of 75 days with 177 countries becoming co-sponsors.