Registration open at The Art of Living here.
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 16, 2023
In deference to the growing demand, the Art of Living Foundation New Zealand has planned to conduct Yoga sessions every Saturday from April 22, 2023 to June 10, 2023.
The weekend sessions will be online from 7.30 am to 8.30 am and registration is essential.
Rozeena K Roz, who is organising the training sessions, said that the cost per session is $10.
“However, those booking all eight sessions need to pay only $60. We will send the Zoom link to registered participants,” she said.
Rozeena can be contacted on 021-769462. Email: kumarirozeena@gmail.com
Total body harmony
“Yoga is all about harmonising the body with the mind and breath through the means of various breathing exercises, Yoga postures (Asanas) and meditation. This ancient knowledge made applicable to modern times can be easily added to your daily routine, resulting in a lasting experience of your true inner power and overall well-being,” she said.
Rozeena said that the forthcoming Yoga sessions have been designed to enable participants to recharge, strengthen and awaken their true selves.
“The weekly, specialised sessions offered by trained Yoga facilitators of the Art of Living Foundation. These sessions will focus on Restorative and Desktop Yoga, Flexibility and Strengthening, Weight Loss and Toning, Spine and Back Support, Pain Relief and more,” she said.
International Day of Yoga
Following a recommendation by India’s Prime Minister Narender Modi, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution on December 11, 2014 to observe June 21 on International Day of Yoga from 2015.
Since then, more than 180 countries across all the Continents observe this as a global event.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 (his first since assuming office on May 26, 2014), Mr Modi said that 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. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Day of Yoga,” he said.
In suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Yoga Day, Mr Modi said that the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.
Spiritual Connection
From the perspective of Yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana.
The first Full Moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima.
According to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, in the Yogic lore, the first transmission of Yoga by Shiva, the first Guru, is said to have begun on this day.
Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices. There is no date available to fix that First Day but it is believed that Yoga dates back at least 6000 years when Rishis and Gurus practised and taught Yoga as the best way of transforming the human body and mind into a state of well-being and bliss.
Sri Ravi Shankar
In December 2011, The Art of Living Founder, International Humanitarian and Yoga Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and other Yoga Gurus supported the cause of the delegation of the Yoga Portuguese Confederation and together called on the UN to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day.
“It is very difficult for any philosophy, religion or culture to survive without state patronage. Yoga has existed so far almost like an orphan. Now, official recognition by the UN would further spread the benefit of yoga to the entire world,” Mr Ravi Shankar said.
Since then, The Art of Living Foundation Centres in New Zealand join their global counterparts in marking June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day.’
Yoga Sessions Registration Link: https://www.artofliving.org/nz-en/program/1947
