2Nd International Day of Yoga Celebrated in Azerbaijan

PRESS RELEASE

2nd International Day of Yoga celebrated in Azerbaijan -

Yoga week (21-26 June) launched in Baku

On the occasion of 2nd International Day of Yoga on 21 June, an open-air Yoga session was held in the morning of Tuesday at the historical complex at 'Ateshgah' at Surakhani near Baku which was attended by several Yoga practitioners and enthusiasts from Azerbaijan. This event launched the Yoga Week being celebrated in Azerbaijan from 21-26 June by the Embassy of India in Baku in collaboration with Yoga institutions in Azerbaijan such as the Art of Living, Yoga Shahi, Alaia Yoga, with support of the the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher" and the YARAT, Baku.

The Yoga Week in Azerbaijan will include several events by various Yoga institutions in Baku and Ganja including an Open-Air Yoga Session at Icheri Sheher in the evening of 21 June 2016, which is open for all Yoga lovers and fitness enthusiasts. Beginners as well as regular practitioners could join in this introductory Yoga Session by the Art of Living in Azerbaijan.

Yoga celebrations will culminate with a Yoga and cultural fair at YARAT Contemporary Art Space on Sunday, 26 June in partnership with Yoga Shahi studio. In addition to open air yoga classes held by Yoga Shahi studio at boulevard around Yashil café and lectures on Yoga, the event will include Indian music, dance performances as well as Indian cuisine. The event is free and open for all public.

The practice of Yoga which originated in India has been growing in popularity all over the world. It received recognition by the United Nations when member states, recognizing the universal appeal of Yoga proclaimed 21 June as International Yoga Day by adopting a resolution in the UN General Assembly in New York in December 2014. International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

The 2nd annual International Day of Yoga on 21 June is being celebrated with much fanfare all across the world in over 190 countries. In India, millions of people in cities across India celebrated the Yoga Day. Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi led a mass Yoga Session with 30 thousand school children and other residents in the city of Chandigarh. Prime Minister Modi urged people to make Yoga a regular part of their lives and get rid of the stress of modern life by connecting with our inner self and the nature. He said yoga was not a religious practice and people could embrace it for a better mental and physical health without any religious consideration. He also said that the Yoga practice was accessible to all and provided health assurance for free without discriminating between rich and poor.

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