On Saturday, the grounds of the Commonwealth Headquarters in London hosted the first-ever yoga session to commemorate the 10th International Yoga Day.
On a foggy morning, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, was joined by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Saida Muna Tasneem, Commonwealth representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora as yoga mats were laid out on the grounds of Marlborough House.
The hour-long yoga and meditation programme was given by practitioners from Heartfulness Worldwide, a non-profit wellness group.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland stated, “The Heartfulness movement has become a global force for inner transformation, creating ripples, which transcend continents and cultures, sowing seeds of mindfulness, compassion, and spiritual wellbeing across the world”.
“The yoga and meditation we experience today is both a tool to improve our health and wellbeing and a celebration of India’s spiritual legacy, allowing us to discover the divinity within ourselves, within others and to deepen our understanding of the interconnectedness of life”, she continued.
The event was part of a larger yoga community programme spearheaded by Heartfulness Worldwide, the Government of India, and several foreign institutions, including the Commonwealth Secretariat.
“I think it is uniquely appropriate that we can celebrate Yoga Day together as a Commonwealth family”, said Doraiswami in his presentation, during which he drew linkages between yoga and the Commonwealth of Nations as natural partners.
“Yoga is holistic. It aims not only to strengthen the body but also to balance the body and mind. Our Commonwealth, too, is a holistic organization that tries to generate chances for cultural cooperation as well as development cooperation”, he continued.
Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Linda Scott, Namibian High Commissioner to the UK and Chair of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Board of Governors, also attended the event and spoke to the audience on the numerous benefits of yoga.
The event is likely to become a regular feature on the Commonwealth’s calendar, with India as the largest member.
Also read: Thousands Attend International Yoga Day Celebrations In China
