Attendees of the event practicing Yoga / Abhishek Bansal

The DFW metroplex came in full force at various locations celebrating the International Day of Yoga. This year’s theme focused on “Yoga with Healthy Aging”. 

The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial of North Texas (MGMNT), in partnership with the Consulate General of India hosted the International Day of Yoga in Irving on Father’s Day morning. MGMNT Founder Chairman, Dr. Prasad Thotakura along with numerous volunteers and supporters, hosted the event successfully. Despite the hectic schedule honoring the Houston Yoga event an evening before, Consulate General Dr. D.C. Manjunath was seen in the morning of the Irving event. 

The event started with welcoming guests and representatives from MGMNT Board, Governance Board, IAFC Board and International Association of North Texas (IANT) board. Opening remarks by Dr. Prasad highlighted the importance of yoga and celebrating it every year since 2015. Dr. Manjunath’s message followed by encouraging yoga in this fast-paced world where people tend to forget to take care of their health. He said we should not only do yoga but do with grace so we can age gracefully. 

The event was followed by a series of yoga stretches and exercises led by experienced instructors. Surekha, a yoga and meditation trainer, guided participants through each asana while explaining their benefits. For elderly participants and those with physical limitations, Krishna demonstrated modified versions of the same asanas using a chair. Jessica Schieffer, demonstrated by performing the asanas for everyone on the yoga mats.  

The event ended with a guided meditation by young medical student Gazal who has been practicing meditation for many years. Sharing an insightful message with the participants, she said, “Meditation is not about stopping your thoughts but just turning your attention inward”. Urmil Shah from Heartfulness Institute of Hyderabad told NIA that they have many of their non-profit organization locations in various parts of the U.S. and their purpose is to help people realize that meditation is very important not only for their body but for their soul. 

Also Read: Yoga for Healthy Ageing’ spreads across the world celebrating International Yoga Day

This event was attended by many known organizations including Sewa International President Mr. Gitesh Desai. He emphasized the importance of such events and thanked the organization and Consulate for their continued efforts in promoting yoga and wellness over the years. 

In a private interview with the journalist, Dr. Manjunath expressed that the Consulate alone can only do so much but with the support of organizations such as MGMNT, they play a crucial role in spreading the message and importance of Yoga and Meditation worldwide. When asked about his personal practice of yoga at times when he is not at any community event, he shared that he does whenever time permits, even if for a couple of minutes each day. 

DFW Hindu Temple Ekta Mandir and Vidya Vikas school also celebrated International Day of Yoga on the temple premises. The temple, also located in Irving, is a prime location for many Dallasites. The event was organized by Milind Chauk, an active yoga teacher at the Vidya Vikas School. Milind told NIA that yoga helps us see clearly our life decisions. “We should practice daily to clear our mind thoughts and bring more stability in our actions”, he said. 

President of DFW Hindu Temple, Mahalakshmi Sivakumar said: “ It was a delight to see children and adults participate in IYD, taking a step towards better physical and emotional well-being. “

Seema Somani, a certified yoga instructor and a therapist began with some basic warm up exercises. She believed in “one breath, one movement”. While Seema showed how to perform Surya Namaskar, Milind explained the meaning and importance of breathing each step in Surya Namaskar. Milind also taught ways to perform Surya Namaskar while sitting on a chair for elderly and those having physical limitations.

While explaining breathing patterns in yoga, Milind said, “Imagine a child breathing, we have to bring a child inside us for healthy aging”. The event was attended by temple President, Ms. Mahalakshmi Sivakumar and many Executive members. 

Discover more at New India Abroad.