The glorious practice of yoga
Cousin Island Special Reserve staff practising yoga by the beach
In exactly one month, the first ever International Yoga Day will be celebrated worldwide. Under its Green Health Program, Nature Seychelles too will take part in the planned activities for the day, which are being organised locally by the High Commission of India.
The Indian government has outlined an action plan so that International Yoga Day is celebrated with coordinated yoga sessions and ceremonies worldwide.
In December last year the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared the 21st of June as a day to celebrate the practise of yoga as a way of healthy living and improved wellbeing. The Indian sponsored resolution was greatly supported with an unprecedented 177 out of 193 member states co-sponsoring the resolution, including Seychelles.
Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. photo source do you yoga
While addressing the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi described yoga as “an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition.” Within 75 days of his addressing the assembly to request that yoga be given formal recognition, a resolution was passed to date an international day for yoga.
“Yoga embodies unity of mind and body…harmony between man and nature,” said Prime Minister Modi in his address to the UN General Assembly. “Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature.”
Nature Seychelles’ Green Health Program aims to connect people with nature and themselves through Green Yoga, the Heritage (organic) Garden and other healthy activities taking place at The Sanctuary and around the Seychelles. Those who practise green yoga at The Sanctuary in Roche Caiman do so surrounded by a mangrove forest and wetland, and the opportunity for many sightings of wildlife, especially birds.
Through Green Yoga, Nature Seychelles aims to connect people with nature and themselves
Visitors to The Sanctuary can explore the amazing wildlife of the site, and perhaps get a hold of some freshly picked organic produce from the demonstration Heritage Garden.
The green health program adopts an approach which connects people with nature for improved wellbeing and increasing people’s consciousness to conservation of our natural environment through Green Yoga. The declaration of an international day for yoga is therefore momentous in giving further credence to Nature Seychelles’ work.
“Through Green Yoga and other types of yoga, we learn to connect with ourselves, others and the environment with compassion and understanding, bringing peace and harmony,” says Robin Hanson, Nature Seychelles Green Health Manager. “Imagine an international day that celebrates such a practice, what a wonderful thing to be part of.”
Nature Seychelles will not only join in the one-day celebration of International Yoga Day with other yoga practitioners in Seychelles, but also have special green yoga events and activities for the next four weeks leading up to the date, which will be shared through social media and other online platforms.
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