Celebrate "Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family" for this year's Yoga Day.
The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated every June 21 since 2015 as an official United Nations promotion of global health, harmony, and peace. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea, he declared to the UN General Assembly:
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. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.
In his address, Modi also suggested June 21 to celebrate because it is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (shortest in the southern), and the Solstice is significant to many cultures across the world. The date also marks the transition to Dakshinayana, the six month period between Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice when it is believed that the gods are in their celestial sleep.
Since its inception, the International Day of Yoga has been observed and celebrated around the world. Perhaps you have taken a special class at a studio or participated in an organized gathering to honor the day. Every year the theme changes:
2015 :: Yoga for Harmony and Peace
2016 :: Connect the Earth
2017 :: Yoga for Health
2018 :: Yoga for Peace
2019 :: Yoga for Climate Action
This year's theme, which should come as no surprise, is "Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family." So, here are some fun tips and ideas for celebrating yoga at home and with your family today...and every day!
Keep your practice short, sweet, and simple.
Strike a pose while doing chores.
Breathe, stretch, and move in before you get out of bed.
Dedicate a yoga space in your home for your practice (see ours below...bonus points if you can figure out which space is whose!).
Or don't dedicate a space and practice all around and outside your home!
Try a few poses in the shower.
Pick a "Pose of the Day" and have your whole family participate.
Read a children's story and then have your whole family act it out.
Experiment with some partner poses.
Create your own yoga music playlist and then jam out!
Find an on-line class that may be out of your comfort zone and then enjoy making it work for YOU.
Explore mudras and hold one whenever you can...even while binge watching your favorite show. Here are a few mudras for energy and vitality.
Dance and move to Kira Willey's yoga music for kids and families.
Practice in your birthday suit? ;-)
Grab some props and experiment. They aren't just for modifying poses!
Incorporate your sense of smell into your practice by applying/diffusing essential oils or burning sage/palo santo.
Challenge your teen or significant other in a "pose-off" just for fun.
Look up a variety of breathing techniques (pranayamas) and choose a few to try by yourself or with your family. When done, talk about your experiences.
Settle in before bed for a relaxing Yoga Nidra session.
Experience a Nyasa Meditation.
Most importantly, though, whatever you choose to do, make it yours! Your yoga practice should be about your preferences, what you have time for, what you want to learn about yourself.
Comments