Our health-conscious neighbourhood gathered on June 21, at various places to celebrate Yoga Day with zest. Here is a glimpse of the celebrations:
NIEPMD celebrates Yoga Day
NIEPMD celebrated Yoga Day (June 21) with week-long programmes starting June 15. Dr. Nachiketa Rout, Director, NIEPMD inaugurated the event in the presence of Dr. A. Amarnath, Deputy Registrar (offg.), NIEPMD and Shri. P. Kamaraj, HoD, Department of Special Education, NIEPMD.
The event began with an awareness program on Adapted Yoga for children with special needs from different special schools in and around Chennai, conducted at Paradise Home for Mentally Challenged (Muttukadu), Little Hearts Residential School for Mental illness (Panaiyur), MGR School for the Deaf (Ramapuram), The Spastics Society of Tamilnadu (Taramani) and Vidyasagar Special School (Kotturpuram). An awareness webinar was conducted on ‘Yoga and its health benefits’ for children with special needs; S.Jothi Arumugam, Yoga instructor was the resource person.
A demonstration of common yoga protocol was organised on June 21, by Dr. Jyoti Maggu, PhD scholar from Vyasa University, Bangalore. An inclusive yoga awareness program was conducted for children including children with special needs around the NIEPMD campus and from outside schools to teach the basic yoga poses along with breathing techniques for their general well-being.
Therapeutic yoga at YogaVahini
It was dual celebrations at Yoga Vahini as they celebrated June 21 as Yoga Day as well as the birth anniversary of T.K.V.Desikachar, the teacher of Yoga Therapy in the Krishnamacharya tradition.
To mark this special day, YogaVahini organised a Yoga Therapy workshop themed ‘Yoga Therapy for Common Ailments’ at its Besant Nagar centre. The workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, including householders, retired individuals, and working professionals, all seeking therapeutic interventions for common health issues for themselves and their loved ones.
Saraswathi Vasudevan, the founder of YogaVahini, engaged with participants to highlight the critical need for restoring holistic well-being and the vital role of yoga and yoga therapy in this journey. She offered insights and healing opportunities for chronic insomnia, frozen shoulder, depression, anxiety, and more. One of her students, significantly healed from Parkinson’s through yoga therapy, also attended the workshop. The institute can be contacted at 98846 42456.
Yoga Day celebrations at Patrician College
Patrician College of Arts and Science, Adyar, celebrated International Yoga Day on 21 June with officers of Nehru Yuva Kendra – Nammala Krishna – District Youth Officer (Chennai), Senthil Kumar – State Director (i/c) (Tamilnadu and Puducherry) and Janarthan – National Youth Corps. Dr Fatima Vasanth – Academic Director and Dr Ananda Priya – Vice Principal of Patrician College also participated.
The chief guests enlightened the audience about the importance of yoga for physical and mental health and the history of International Yoga Day. This was followed by the yoga session for the students trained by Arul Murugan, the Physical Director of the college. The students found the session useful and wished to incorporate this into their daily routine.
Yoga on the beach!
East Coast Beach Walkers Association (ECBWA) and Vethathri Maharishi Yoga Centre, Thiruvanmiyur (MVKM Trust) jointly organised the International Day of Yoga on June 21 at Thiruvanmiyur Beach.
About 100 members including ladies, children and senior citizens, participated. The general public also joined in. The mass yoga started with a prayer and was followed by various yoga asanas. Prof.R.Thanasekaran, Secretary of East Coast Beach Walkers Association spoke on the occasion and explained the need for yoga practices, and renewed lifestyles in the modern world. The institute is conducting free yoga classes at the beach daily (except Sundays), at 5.30 am. He requested all to participate and benefit.
The yoga teachers were honoured during the function and all participants who registered for Yoga Day were given T-shirt. Light refreshment was served to all participants at the end of the session.
Sri Sankara Vidyashramam celebrates Yoga Day with Mandala Yoga theme
On June 21, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam, Thiruvanmiyur, marked International Yoga Day with an event themed around Mandala Yoga. Students from grades 1 to 12 participated enthusiastically.
The day began with a group yoga session emphasising unity and harmony. The Mandala Yoga theme aimed to help students connect with their inner selves through intricate mandala patterns, symbolising wholeness and unity. Each class created its own mandala designs, displayed around the yoga practice area, adding a vibrant and artistic touch.
Principal Mrs. Sashirekha highlighted yoga’s importance in promoting physical health and mental well-being. Various workshops throughout the day taught students different yoga postures and breathing techniques. Overall, the celebration was a resounding success, fostering peace and mindfulness among the young participants.
Celebrating Yoga Day at Kidzee Thiruvanmiyur
Kidzee Thiruvanmiyur, Valmiki Nagar campus witnessed a vibrant celebration of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. Embracing India’s ancient tradition, the event commenced with fundamental breathing techniques, setting a serene tone for what unfolded next.
Under the guidance of enthusiastic instructors from Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, children and parents immersed themselves in the essence of yoga, showcasing a spirited performance that highlighted its transformative power. From the Surya Namaskar to the Dhanurasana and dynamic postures like Salabhasana, Bhujangasana, frog posture, and cobra posture, parents and children experienced a holistic workout that nourished both body and mind.
The importance of regular yoga practice for maintaining fitness was emphasised throughout the event. Parents and teachers alike encouraged everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, promoting a healthier lifestyle. The school can be reached at 98842 00080.
