New York city tables resolution to recognise June 21st as Yoga Day

By NewsGram Staff Writer

A resolution to recognise June 21st as 'World Yoga Day' has been tabled in the New York City in line with the United Nations' decision to commemorate the day internationally.

Council member for the 19th district, Paul Vallone tabled the resolution on Tuesday, calling on the city to commemorate June 21 as 'World Yoga Day'.

The resolution, that is yet to be voted upon, notes that the UN had last year declared June 21 to be commemorated each year as the 'International Day of Yoga'.

A 'Yogathon' website focusing on the movement of Yoga in the US has also been launched by Indian Consul General Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay.

Started by the Overseas Volunteers of Better India(OVBI), the website aims to serve as a one-stop portal that will provide information and details about various yoga events planned in over 100 US cities on June 21.

Mulay said that several events will be held across the US in the run-up to June 21, aimed at spreading awareness about yoga and to "celebrate yoga as a world heritage.

According to the Ambassador, yoga should not be seen with a religious perspective.

"We have been celebrating yoga for 5000 years and it has evolved as a holistic life mechanism and not just a lifestyle," he said.

"It is an ancient Indian practice that provides solutions in current times of anger, stress and disputes. The City Council resolution is a recognition of yoga as well of India's heritage", he further elaborated.

Last year, after the UN General Assembly adopted an India-led resolution co-sponsored by a record 175 countries, June 21st was declared as the 'International Day of Yoga'

Less than three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea at the UN, the UNGA passed the resolution saying that "yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being."

"The UN declared June 21 of each year as international yoga day; now therefore, be it resolved that the Council of the City of New York recognises and commemorates June 21 as World Yoga Day in the City of New York," the City Council resolution reads.

The resolution referred to a number of studies to back-up the recognition of Yoga:

A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology that showed that yoga produced significant changes in body weight, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate.