Why celebrate Yoga on June 21st?
This is how our beloved Yogacharya Sanjay explains it
June 21st is the day of the summer solstice, the day when day is longest and night is shortest. Today also marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and simultaneously heralds the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere.
In our tradition, the year is divided into two halves – Uttarayana (when the Sun moves northward) and Dakshinayana (when the sun moves southward on the northern hemisphere). Today’s summer solstice marks the beginning of Dakshinayana, a six month period when deities are believed to be in their celestial sleep. Similarly, the winter solstice which falls in the month of December marks the beginning of Uttarayana or the northward movement of the sun. Uttarayana is believed to be a day for the deities.
The period of Dakshinayana is believed to be ideal for spiritual and yogic practice.
Any sadhana – yogic practice, spiritual practice – pursued with true conviction and commitment, can lead to significant benefits”
On the occasion of the third International Yoga Day, Himalayan School of Traditional Yoga team wishes everyone great progress in the path of yoga. Various centres across the world celebrated this event with group yoga practice, honouring the time tested methods of traditional yoga.
