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Feature: Vietnam joins world in celebrating first Int'l Yoga Day

Xinhua, June 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Over 700 yoga practitioners gathered at a sport complex here Sunday to participate in a yoga demonstration as part of the worldwide celebration of the International Yoga Day set every June 21 annually.

The designation of International Yoga Day came following the appeal last year of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Nations General Assembly to set aside a day for yoga around the world.

"I practice yoga every day in the morning and evening. Yoga has totally changed my life," Pham Thi Vinh, a 55-year-old retired accountant told Xinhua here on Sunday.

Vinh, who joined the Vietnamese yoga enthusiasts in the celebration of the International Yoga Day, said she decided to practice yoga for health reason. "I got a problem with my vertebral discs and I was always in pain. After practicing yoga, I don't feel pain anymore," she said.

Vinh said she has also persuaded her husband to do yoga with her. Both of them are now enjoying yoga, she added.

According to Vinh, she spends around 80 minutes to do yoga exercise every day in the morning and evening whenever she has time. "Even if I am busy, I always try to have at least 30 minutes practicing yoga," she said.

Nguyen Lan Anh, a 20-year-old student in Hanoi, was among the yoga practitioners who took part in the demonstration on Sunday.

"I just joined yoga classes a few months ago. I feel better both physically and mentally just after a few yoga exercises," Anh told Xinhua.

Practicing yoga has become more popular in Vietnam in recent years.Nguyen Minh, a yoga teacher in Hanoi, said yoga practitioners in her classes vary in age and jobs.

"There are students, office staff, business people, salespeople and others. Many are housewives," Minh said.

"They practice yoga for different purposes. Some want to lose weight, some seek treatment for health problems,while others just do yoga for relaxation," Minh said.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word "yoga" is derived from Sanskrit which means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

A draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and was adopted by a landslide vote at the UN.

On Dec. 11, 2014, through a resolution, the UN officially proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The UN resolution received overwhelming support of more than 170 co-sponsors.

Besides the event in capital Hanoi, the first International Day of Yoga was also celebrated in other cities and provinces across Vietnam. Endi