The United Nations General Assembly, on December 11, 2014, adopted a unanimous resolution declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. The Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.  

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, on a three-day visit to the United States, participated in a group yoga session on the lawn of the United Nations in Manhattan that received the Guinness world record for most nationalities in a Yoga session. At least 135 countries were represented at the Yoga session.

Opening the event under the theme "Yoga for Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" [Yoga for 'The World is One Family'] at the North Lawn Area of the UNHQ, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, said, “Yoga is truly universal.”

He continued, “When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally contained. But this is not just about doing exercises on a mat, yoga is a way of life.”

Modi added that yoga is “A holistic approach to health and wellbeing, a way to mindfulness in thoughts and actions. A way to live in harmony with self, with others and with nature.”

Also addressing the participants, General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi said, “Yoga changes our physical performance. But more importantly, it can spark in us a different mental and intellectual performance.”

He continued, “With the control that it teaches over ourselves, we learn how to make change and impact.”

Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.  For India coverage click here