First-Ever International Yoga Day to Be Celebrated in NZ

First-Ever International Yoga Day to Be Celebrated in NZ

The Maharishi Foundation in New Zealand is taking time this Sunday afternoon to celebrate the first-ever International Yoga Day which was initiated late last year by the United Nations with support from 177 countries.

The move to make June 21 each year an occasion to honour the 6,000-year-old practice was endorsed by the UN General Assembly after encouragement from Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. In September he had told delegates that "Yoga is not about exercise, but to discover the sense of Oneness within yourself, the world and nature."

This understanding of Oneness, Unity, and its location, silent and blissful, deep inside each of us, has been brought to light by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the Transcendental Meditation Programme. The Maharishi Foundation has been teaching the Transcendental Meditation programme in New Zealand since the 1970’s. Known as TM for short, this programme has its origins in the ancient Vedic tradition of India and its instructors say that it gives the inner experience of wholeness that allows all 8 aspects of traditional yoga to grow together. These aspects include modes of behaviour as well as the physical postures which usually spring to mind when yoga classes are mentioned.

TM is a mental technique that brings deep rest to mind and body when practiced for 15-20 minutes twice daily and has been shown by published scientific research in recent decades to markedly improve physical and mental wellbeing. These findings include: reduced stress and anxiety, reduced heart disease, increased energy and efficiency, greater happiness and improved learning ability.

The Foundation will be hosting lectures in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Sunday afternoon to examine the role of TM in its promotion of the overall goals of yoga. Foundation Director, Martin Davy, says a feature of the events will be a DVD presentation by the late founder of TM, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi..

ENDS

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