Not just in India, but people in cities across the world from Washington DC to Tokyo to Sydney took part in mass sessions on Sunday to mark the first ever International Day of Yoga.
Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts took to mats and performed stretches, bends and breathing exercises at different locations across 192 countries. Sessions were held at the lawns of the National Mall in Washington DC, the banks of the Thames in London, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and in front of the Opera House in Sydney.
Over a thousand people participated in dozens of events across Australia to mark the day, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott appreciating Yoga’s universal appeal.
“For thousands of years, yoga has provided its followers with a guide to bringing their minds, bodies and spirits into balance. Yoga’s universal and growing popularity demonstrates its appeal to people from all the walks of life and its great potential to foster better health among individuals and populations around the world,” Abbott said.
Melbourne saw over 500 people gather at the Springers Leisure Centre to kick off the day with ‘Surya Namaskar’ and bending and twisting their bodies in complex postures.
Yoga events were also held at many places in Sydney including at Taronga Zoo. (All Images from International Yoga Day at Taronga zoo Sydney)
