International Day of Yoga 2016
Organised at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune

ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune and ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Training and Education Center, Pune jointly organized 2^nd International Day of Yoga on 21^st June 2016.Yoga experts Dr. Rajalaksmi and Dr. Sindhu from BKS Iyengar Institute of Yoga, Pune were invited as guest faculty to guide us on this occasion. Dr. K.V. Prasad, Director, ICAR-DFR welcomed the yoga experts and requested them to deliver a talk on Yoga and also organize a mass yoga session. All the scientific, administrative and temporary staff of ICAR-DFR and ICAR-IVRI, TEC, Pune together performed yoga on this occasion.

Dr. Rajalaksmi first explained about the importance of yoga and informed us about the common protocols to be followed while performing yoga. She explained that yoga is not just a physical exercise but a way of life which ultimately leads to freedom i.e. freedom of mind and body. It’s a way of bringing harmony between mind and body hence “YOGA-Unity”. She insisted that the yoga should not be restricted to one day but it should be practiced lifelong. With the instruction that yoga should only be performed under a trained instructor,we started the mass yoga performance. It started with a prayer dedicated to the revered master, Patanajali. She being a disciple of Dr. B.K.S. Iyengar mainly focused on “Iyengar Yoga” who was instrumental in popularizing yoga internationally. She with the help of her colleague demonstrated some of the yoga asanas which included some sitting and standing postures like Tadasana Samasthiti, Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana, Tadasana Urdhva Baddha Hastasana, Parasva Virasana, Baddha konasana, Swastikasana, Dandasanaand Virasana. All the staff members performed these asanas following her instructions carefully.

The yoga sessions ended with a vote of thanks to the experts