US cities gear up for International Yoga Day

Health conscious Americans are gearing up to celebrate the second International Yoga Day next week as several yoga events are planned across the US.
From Capitol Hill in the American Capital to the UN in New York, yoga events are being planned across US many cities where people are increasingly getting health conscious and look at yoga as an effective way to stay fit and healthy.
On the Second International Yoga Day, Jaggi Vasudev, also known as 'Sadhguru', would participate in a conversation and panel discussion on "Yoga for the Sustainable Development Goals." The event will also include a musical incantation on Yoga by Tanya Wells, musician. Former Miss America Nona Davuluri would be the masters of ceremony.

Through a historic resolution, the UN General Assembly designated 21 June International Day of Yoga.
But the Yoga Day commemorations begins over the weekend, wherein yoga enthusiasts are planning to gather at small and big parks with their mats to flex their muscles under the guidance of trained yoga teachers.
Possibly for the first time, a classical dance programme is being organised at the lawns of the US Capitol in Washington DC.

Eminent artists would be presenting Indian classical dance forms -- Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam.
The event is being organised by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in association with India International School & Cultural Center, with the support of Embassy of India.

The Indian Embassy here has planned a special screening of the award-winning documentary film about the father of Yoga in the West - Awake: The Life of Yogananda on Tuesday, June 21.
Indian Consulates in New York, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco have joined hands with local community organisations to celebrate the International Day of Yoga.
A large number of yoga studios are offering free demonstration classes and giving incentives for people to join their classes.
Many churches too are organising special yoga classes on the occasion.
A huge "Christian Yoga" bill board could be seen outside a Church in a suburb of Washington DC.

Over the past few years, health conscious Americans see yoga as an effective tool to stay fit and healthy.
Given its popularity, even federal government including the Pentagon and a number of State governments are encouraging people to take up yoga.
Some of them have even allocated budgets for such free classes.
For instance, according to Congressional record just two agencies, the State Department and the Department of Energy in the last five years spent more than USD 168,000 on yoga and pilates.