The front lawn of the B.C. legislature will be the spotlight for some serious downward dogging on Father’s Day.
More than 500 yoga practitioners are expected to descend on downtown Victoria on June 21 for one of the largest yoga sessions in B.C. for International Day of Yoga.
The big stretch is from 8 to 10 a.m.
In his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly last year, Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi proposed a global yoga day. The UN later approved the motion to commemorate the ancient practice every year on June 21.
“We want to share the knowledge and the gift of yoga,” said Nirmala Raniga, organizer of the Victoria event.
The event is sponsored by the International Day of Yoga, Vancouver Committee and supported by the Consulate General of India.
“The West Coast is home to some of Canada’s largest and most advanced yoga studios and many consider the West Coast to be the heartland of yoga in Canada,” Raniga said.
There is no charge to attend the presentations on yoga and to participate in the yoga session.
Raniga said the world is going towards more diversity in society, and yoga can become a very significant vehicle to bring people together and promote harmonious relationships between people from different parts of the world.
A total of 177 countries are expected to take part in International Day of Yoga.
Anyone can take part in the yoga session from beginner to advance.
“It’s not just about yoga, but a lifestyle,” Raniga said.
“People can practice from a half-hour to the full two hours. The important thing is that listen to their bodies and feel healthy.”
For more information, please go online to internationalyogaday.ca.