BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Photos by Vinod Sharma, SFA Productions
Johns Creek, GA, July 11, 2025: On June 27, 2025, the Consulate General of India in Atlanta hosted a vibrant and inclusive celebration of International Day of Yoga (IDY) at Newtown Park in Johns Creek, bringing together an extraordinary gathering of yoga schools, traditions, and practitioners. The event honored yoga not only as a physical discipline but as a profound holistic science for inner transformation. The collective energy in the room reflected yoga’s timeless appeal — uniting people across cultures, generations, and backgrounds.
The International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. He described yoga as an “invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition,” emphasizing its benefits for mental and physical well-being and its power to bring harmony between human beings and nature. The proposal was unanimously adopted by the UN, and since June 21, 2015, the day has been celebrated around the world as a tribute to yoga’s ability to unify and heal.
But long before the world embraced yoga as a global movement, it was cultivated in the ashrams and sacred forests of ancient Bharat (India). Rooted in the Vedas, Upanishads, and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, yoga has always been more than a physical practice. It is a spiritual science — a roadmap for self-realization, inner peace, and harmony with the universe. The Sanskrit word “yoga” itself means “union” — of body and breath, mind and soul, the self and the Supreme.
This year’s celebration in Atlanta resonantly echoed the spirit of IDY by bringing together diverse lineages and schools — each offering a unique flavor of yoga while honoring its shared roots in India’s spiritual heritage. In his remarks, the Hon. Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, Consul General of India, Atlanta, highlighted the significance of yoga as India’s timeless gift to humanity — a practice that nurtures both personal wellness and collective unity.
The event began with an opening prayer led by members of Art of Living (AOL) and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), invoking peace and harmony. These sacred vibrations set a contemplative tone, gently quieting the mental chatter and creating a space of receptivity.
Participants then engaged in loosening movements, including neck bending, shoulder rolls, and knee rotations, led by ARSHGURUKUL and Vivekananda Yoga Shikshana Sanstha (VSS). These foundational practices help awaken the joints and muscles, preparing the body to receive deeper benefits from asana work. Gentle warm-ups also enhance circulation and reduce injury risk, especially in modern sedentary lifestyles.
The standing asanas showcased strength, stability, and presence of mind. Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Pada Hastasana, Ardha Cakrasana, and Trikonasana — demonstrated by VSS, RAMA, and ARSHGURUKUL — highlighted the alignment of body and breath. These postures build concentration, improve balance, and correct posture — essential tools for mental clarity and physical resilience.
In the sitting posture sequence, the body found rootedness and introspection. Bhadrasana, Vajrasana, Ardha Ustrasana, Ustrasana, Sasankasana, and Vakrasana were presented by Art of Living, Naresh, Cole group, and Patanjali Yog Peeth. These asanas are known to enhance digestion, calm the mind, and stimulate the energy centers (chakras), bringing participants into a deeper dialogue with themselves.
The prone postures, including Makarasana, Bhujangasana, and Salabhasana, guided by the Cole group and Patanjali Yog Peeth, helped strengthen the spine and activate the back muscles. These movements are deeply therapeutic for spinal health and are often recommended for people dealing with lower back pain or fatigue.
Next, supine postures took participants into a state of surrender and relaxation. Under the guidance of Yoga Satsang, poses like Setubandhasana, Uttana Padasana, Ardha Halasana, Pavanamuktasana, and Savasana allowed the body to fully rest and regenerate. These poses ease tension in the nervous system, promote digestion, and help integrate the benefits of the session through conscious rest.
Breathwork or pranayama was another cornerstone of the program. Kapalabhati, introduced by RAMA, HTA, and CM, energized the participants with rapid breathwork that stimulates internal organs and clears mental fog. Anuloma Viloma, Shitali, and Bhramari, guided by Patanjali Yog Peeth, brought in a sense of inner quietude, regulating the breath and balancing the two hemispheres of the brain. Pranayama is widely recognized for its role in reducing stress, improving focus, and supporting cardiovascular and lung health.
Beyond the Protocol: Celebrating Innovation and Inner Potential
In addition to classical practices, the event also featured innovative and dynamic elements categorized as “Outside Protocol.” These included:
- Nauri Kriya and Mayurasana demonstrated by Acharya Ved Shrami, which emphasized detoxification, willpower, and digestive health.
- A series of graceful Sun Salutations, performed by HSS and AOL, merging motion and mantra into a sacred rhythm of energy and vitality.
- Laughter Yoga, led by Kailash ji, which reminded all that joy is as healing as discipline — enhancing oxygen intake, endorphin levels, and emotional well-being.
- A jaw-dropping blindfold demonstration of intuitive abilities by children from AOL, exemplifying the latent power of focused consciousness and meditative development.
- A Yoga Dance Flow by the Cole group, fusing movement and expression into a celebration of the body as a spiritual instrument.
- An advanced display of strength and serenity from Dr. Sudhanva Char, who led a progression from Padmasana to Shirsasana, demonstrating perfect harmony between breath, core strength, and mental equilibrium.
As the morning unfolded into serenity, the sacred chant of Shanti Path by the Vedic Temple brought collective calm, invoking peace within and around. The celebration concluded with a heart-opening session of Heartfulness Meditation, gently guiding participants into stillness and love — the true heart of yogic living.
More than a wellness event, this year’s IDY celebration in Atlanta was a sacred gathering of traditions, generations, and seekers. Yoga, in all its diversity, revealed its universal purpose: to align the human being with their highest nature. The gathering exemplified yoga as an instrument of peace, harmony, and conscious living.
At a time when the world is grappling with anxiety, disconnection, and overstimulation, the age-old practices of yoga offer tools not just for self-care, but for self-realization. From movement to stillness, from breath to bliss — yoga continues to be India’s profound gift to the world.
