“Yoga is the art work of awareness on the canvas of body, mind and soul” – Amit Ray
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated almost 5000 years ago in India. Derived from Sanskrit (ancient Indian language), the word ‘yoga’ symbolizes the unity between the mind, body and soul through the asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques), and numerous other postures. To commemorate International Yoga Day and to encourage imbibing yoga into one’s life, on June 29th, Texila American University, Zambia (TAU) organized a collaborative event on yoga.
As a part of TAU’s monthly activity, Texila Knowledge Talk Series, the event was attended by enthusiasts all across Lusaka city, who enjoyed and participated in the half-hour long yoga drill conducted by renowned Naturopathic and Lifestyle consultant, Dr. Sharanya D.
Shri. S.S. Barwal, Second Secretary (Consular and Culture) from High Commission of India, Lusaka, Zambia, stepped in as the Chief Guest for the event who briefed participants on the origin of yoga and its importance.
Trivia: Why International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21st
Here’s a quick trivia – why is June 21st celebrated as the International Day of Yoga? June 21st is the day of the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. It also has mythological significance as it marks an event that is often considered to be the beginning of Yogic science.
In modern times, the first International Yoga Day celebrations took place on June 21st 2015, with 84 nations participating around the world. With time, the event and celebrations have grown bigger and better.
International Yoga Day celebrations & Texila Knowledge Talk Series at TAU, Zambia
Stressing on the importance of a healthy body and mind, Dr. Poddar in his welcome speech said, “Yoga improves your flexibility and toning of the whole body through various body stretching”.
The day started with a 30-min yoga drill, mentored by Dr. Sharanya that witnessed active enthusiasm from all participants. It was followed by an information session where the yoga expert educated the audience in detail about this ancient discipline.
Next, the chief guest, Shri S.S. Barwal, enlightened the audience about the history and importance of International Yoga Day. Yoga comes as indispensable for leading a stress-free life. Since it doesn’t require any expensive accessory or equipment, yoga can be practiced anywhere and anytime, in a closed and/or open environment.
The event concluded with a ‘Vote of Thanks’ by Prof. Sunil Verma, Convener, Texila Knowledge Talk Series who expressed his gratitude to everyone for making the talk show successful with their presence, participation, and enthusiasm. Finally, before the event came to an end, Dr. Poddar felicitated both the chief guest and speaker with mementos marking this event as a memorable one.
Texila American University, Zambia is regarded as a top private medical college in Zambia offering programs in medicine (MBChB) and health science.
