India Post News Service
HOUSTON: The Consulate General of India in Houston, in collaboration with Friends of Yoga, is organizing several events across Texas to celebrate the Fifth International Day of Yoga June 21
This ancient Indian practice received unprecedented global attention four years ago when the United Nations recognized June 21 as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). An initiative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who himself starts his morning with yoga, the first IDY in 2015 saw people turning out in huge numbers stretching and breathing mindfully at public parks, convention centres and open spaces across the world.
Yoga’s soaring popularity can be seen from the crowds that join in the celebration every year. From serious yoga practitioners to curious beginners, each successive IDY has been drawing bigger crowds and garnering greater interest. As with every year, this year too will feature a lineup of common yoga practices, relaxation techniques and guided meditation by well-known yoga instructors. An added attraction is an Indian Vegetarian Food Festival which will be held at select places to mark the 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary,
Houston will celebrate IDY June 21 on the lush green lawns of Midtown Park, 2811, Travis St, Houston Texas.
According to a press release issued, the event will begin at 6.00 p.m. with a demonstration of some of the more difficult yoga postures (asanas) and a cultural program. After brief remarks from the Consul General of India Anupam Ray, the guided group yoga (asanas or postures), relaxation, pranayama and meditation will be led by different yoga experts. The event will wrap up at 7.30 p.m. with a colour powder dance party or Holi as it is known in India. 
Coordinator of Houston’s yoga events and a firm believer in yoga for optimum health, Sharad Amin, expressed his appreciation for the cooperation from Houston’s yoga community in celebrating IDY for the past four years. Yoga is a precious gift given by Indian sages to humanity, he noted and emphasized the importance of practising yoga for good health every day.
“Each one should teach one” the health benefits of yoga as it is key to well-being,” he added.
The Hindu Temple of The Woodlands will host the event June 22 from 7.30 a.m. to -10 a.m. at the Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. Opening remarks will be made by Consul General Ray followed by yoga practices from participating yoga studios, Surya namaskars or sun salutation practice by HTW Yoga Group and a 35-minute yoga protocol set by the Indian government which will be led by renowned yoga instructors Sriram Sarvotam and his wife Ekaterina Jeleva. The morning will conclude with a guided meditation session.
The consulate has also planned a series of events in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
IDY was observed in front of the stately State Capitol building in Austin June 15, in Dallas on June 22 at 8.00 a.m. at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza and in San Antonio June 21 at 6.00 p.m. at the Riverwalk Mall.
In addition to these main events, multiple events are being organized at churches, temples, community centres, Arya Samaj Greater Houston, Brahma Kumaris, India House, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) branches, Jamatkhanas and PatanjaliYogpeeth USA Trust between June 15 and 23.
Those interested can visit the website http://yogadayoftexas.org/ for more information.
The events are free and open to all. Participants are advised to bring their yoga mats and arrive 20 minutes ahead of each event to find a comfortable spot.
