BOSTON: The International Day of Yoga Celebration Organizing Committee (IDYCOC) conducted the 2nd International Yoga Day at Kresge Lawn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA on Sunday, 19 June, from 9 to 11:30am under the joint auspices of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Sewa International, Art of Living, Samskrita Bharati and ISCON.
Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker recognized June 19 as ‘Yoga Day’ in Massachusetts and urged all citizens to participate in the observance of Yoga Day and learn more about it and master the techniques to acquire its full benefits.
More than 300 yoga enthusiasts and practitioners attended the celebration. “We are witnessing an increasing participation in International Yoga Day celebrations year after year. This indicates the growing popularity of Yoga among people especially among youths. By incorporating yoga as a regular practice into our daily lives, we pledge for not just a healthy lifestyle and complete well-being, but also for a better tomorrow,” said Ashwini Garg, Organizer, IDYCOC.
Yoga is a spiritual, mental and a physical practice via breathing techniques, postures, and meditation. International Yoga Day is observed each year to create awareness about yoga as it helps to attain peace and harmony in our mind, body and soul. Various yogic exercises, relaxation techniques and meditation were explained and demonstrated by yoga teachers and volunteers.
Jay Gupta led the Sukshma (subtle or gentle) Yoga session where she showed the audience the proper breathing techniques. This session was followed by other yoga exercises by Suryanamaskar, by volunteers of HSS and the Art of Living Foundation.
Natya Yoga is a dance yoga practiced in Classical Indian musical theatres which was first practiced by Narada, a divine sage from the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. Ranjani Saigal demonstrated this Natya Yoga very interestingly to the audience.
Samita Apte of Sewa International guided the audience on how to perform Avartan Dhyan or Cyclic Meditation to obtain its full benefits and the Art of Living volunteer Dhanashree Ramachandran also conducted a meditation session where our physiology undergoes a change and every cell in the body is filled with more Prana (energy) that gives joy and enthusiasm to the body, mind and soul.
State Representative Smt. Latha Mangipudi, the Chief Guest of the event, spoke about the significance of Yoga. She also appreciated participants’ enthusiasm in practicing Yoga and recognized the Yoga studios which are spreading awareness about yoga in the community.
L.T. Ngaihte, the head of Chancery, Consulate General of India (CGI), New York represented CGI at the event and congratulated the people of Boston for organizing the event and presented a gift as a token of appreciation to the IDY organizing committee.
All the partner organizations, namely, MIT Hindu Students Council, ISKCON Boston, India New England, Gunjan Radio Program, Art of Living Foundation, MIT Samskritam, Savsani, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (USA), India Association of Greater Boston, YogaCaps, Inc., Nataraja Yoga Center, Samskrita Bharati, SATSANG Center (Woburn), Sewa International USA, Ekal Vidyalaya, International Association For Human values, Vedanta Society (Boston), and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America worked hard with their dedicated volunteers to make this event a grand success. Huda Shalhoub, Sonal Chatter and Sindhu Bannerjee gave a wonderful performance as Masters of Ceremony.
Geetha Patil
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