International Yoga Day 2015: PM Narendra Modi’s Rajpath event live updates

An initiative started by our PM Narendra Modi, the very first International Yoga Day is taking place today in several parts of the country and also the world. One of the largest gatherings is at Rajpath, New Delhi today. Here are the live updates of this event.

PM Narendra Modi arrived at the venue around 6.45 am. Other renowned yoga icons such as Smt Hansaji and Baba Ramdev were also present for the event. Addressing the gathering, PM said that today Rajpath has become ‘Yogpath’. He also added that being flexible and being able to perform different asanas is not yoga, there’s so much more to yoga.

Modi also thanked the other 193 countries who are taking part in International Yoga Day. ‘We are not only celebrating the day but also training the mind. This is the beginning of a new era,’ said the prime minister before leaving the podium and joining others to begin doing yoga.

The yoga practice began with chanting ‘Om’ sitting in a comfortable position or sukhasana‘.

Next, neck bending and neck rotation exercises were performed to warm up and prevent any jerky moments. Here are 7 simple asanas to relieve neck pain.

The first yoga pose was tadasana that brings stability to the body.

Next, vrikshasana was performed. This improves neuro-muscular coordination. Here’s how to do it.

Padahastasana was the next asana, a pose to improve flexibility in the spine.

This was followed by ardha chakrasana. This helps improve one’s breathing capacity.

After a few more standing poses, sitting asanas began, the first one being dandasana.

After vajrasana, vakrasana was performed.

Next, lying down yoga poses began, starting with bhujangasana, a pose to beat stress.

Setubandhasana, done lying in supine position was also performed. Next in line was pavanmuktasana, a pose that aids digestion.

To relax the body, shavasana was performed next.

Sitting in meditative posture with palms on the knees and legs crossed, kapalbhati was practised. The first round consisted of 30 strokes. A total of three rounds were performed. This asana revitalises the body.

Anulom-vilom was the next breathing asana to help improve concentration. A total of four rounds were performed.

Next, bhramari pranayama was practised, a pose to calm the mind.

After this, people were asked to meditate. An important component of yoga to calm the mind and become more aware about yourself.

After a few minutes of meditation, shanti path took place.

With this, the yoga session came to an end.

Image source: Shutterstock

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