World Yoga Day

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World Yoga Day 2016 in Chandigarh, India

The International Yoga Day or the International Day of Yoga is a World Day , which is celebrated for the first time in 2015 and since then, every year on 21 June.

Emergence

Ambassador Angelo A Toriello giving a speech at the UN for World Yoga Day

The day is based on a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations that was passed on December 11, 2014. It reads (excerpt):

"The General Assembly,

  • ...
  • Noting the importance of individuals, as well as the population in general, making health-promoting choices and leading healthy lifestyles,
  • Underlining that global health is a long-term development goal that requires closer international cooperation through the sharing of best practices with the aim of developing better individual lifestyles free of excess,
  • Recognizing that yoga offers a holistic approach to health and wellbeing,
  • and recognizing that further dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world's people,

1. Decides to declare June 21st International Yoga Day;
2. Invites all member and observer States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and private individuals, to celebrate International Yoga Day appropriately and in accordance with national priorities, to raise awareness of the benefits of practicing yoga;
3. Stresses that the cost of all activities resulting from the implementation of this resolution should be covered by voluntary contributions;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to bring this resolution to the attention of all member and observer States and the organizations of the United Nations system. "

It follows from the content of the resolution that the General Assembly attributes health benefits to yoga . The resolution was initiated by the Indian government and supported by 177 member states (currently 193).

A kick-off event for World Yoga Day took place in the European Parliament on April 21, 2015 . Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gave a talk there. Nirj Deva , Member of the European Parliament with roots in Sri Lanka, said: "We in the European Parliament are proud to be able to host this kick-off event on yoga in the run-up to the official celebrations for June 21st."

Web links

Commons : International Yoga Day  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Resolution A / Res / 69/131 Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  2. a b Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inspires the European Parliament with yoga , press release on artofliving.org, April 22, 2015, accessed on January 10, 2016