Celebrate the 2nd International Day of Yoga and the Summer Solstice all on the same day!
June 21st is of course the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In India, the first full moon after the Summer Solstice is known as Guru Purnima where the Guru or teacher is honored. According to yoga legend, the first transmission of yoga by Shiva (the first Guru) is said to have begun on this day.
The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the United Nations: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It 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. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”
International Day of Yoga is celebrated all over the world.