Run-up to global day of yoga
ACTIVITIES ranging from panel discussions on the medicinal practice of ayurveda to interactive Sanskrit workshops will be held in the run-up to the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Durban will observe the day with a mass yoga session on North Beach on June 18.
There will also be sessions held in Phoenix, Chatsworth, oThongathi (Tongaat), KwaDukuza (Stanger), Isipingo Beach, and New Germany.
The UN resolved to hold a day of yoga in 2014.
The first day was held a year later.
On June 2, there will be a panel discussion on traditional Indian and African medicine, ayurveda and naturopathy at the Indian Consulate in Durban.
A week later will be an Sanskrit workshop hosted by Dr B Rambilass, the director of the Westville Hindu School, also at the consulate offices.
Rambilass said he hoped that his sessions would demystify Sanskrit and people would leave the session able to speak a few phrases.
There will be a fun run and yoga festival held by the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum on June 16 at Outspan Cricket Stadium.
Dr Shashank Vikram, Indian Consul General for Durban, said organisers had introduced more elements to the agenda after seeing keen interest from Durbanites in previous years.
“All the workshops, which we are having… are basically in the service of humankind: to promote the core values of social cohesion and wellness.
“And when we talk about wellness through yoga, it is not wellness of the person, it is wellness of the entire being: of a man’s physical and mental wellness, of the wellness of the entire society, strengthening bonds in the people.
“The International Day of Yoga was supported by many countries when the UN put the resolution forward and that is because of the soul of yoga.”
He said the events would promote unity among all.