12th International Day of Yoga at the United Nations

Namaste friends.
How are you? Namaste, New York.
We're here tonight at the United Nations North Lawn, and a very, very warm welcome to those of you who are joining with us through the webcast.
Millions of people are coming together right now with the best use of technology.
And all of us here on the beautiful North lawn outdoors with the planes flying over and the river to our side, appreciate all of you being with us as we set our minds to celebrate World Yoga Day 2026.
Happy World Yoga Day, everyone.
Whoa.
Yes, we're so enthused to be together to have another celebration so that we can all come together and enjoy the wonderful benefits and the beautiful culture that this ancient tradition provides to all of us.
My name is Denise Scotto, and I'm the Chair of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations.
It's my honor to serve as the MC for this special event.
What a beautiful evening, isn't it? No rain, such something that we were really hoping to be outdoors on the North lawn.
So let's enjoy the fresh air and the delicious breeze that comes over us being here tonight.
We're commemorating the 12th International Day of yoga.
Can you believe so much time has already passed since the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution that established June 21 as World Yoga Day? What a milestone, 12 years.
Again, Happy International Day of yoga.
And I'd like to salute all those yogis who are with us today celebrating because it is your special day.
For those of you who don't know, what is remarkable is that 175 countries co sponsored this resolution, and this demonstrates the unity from across the globe and the important local and regional support that this initiative garnered in record time and with record numbers.
This year's theme, and many of you know it, Yoga for Healthy Aging recognizes how yoga is a powerful tool for healthy aging and longevity.
Done regularly, a yoga practice supports coordination and mobility, balance, circulation, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, the hormonal system, respiratory health, posture, stability, and flexibility, the ability to maintain focus and overall well being.
And this just helps individuals remain active, resilient, independent, and adapt quickly across all stages of one's lifespan and during the aging process.
Did you know that neck strain, shoulder and back stiffness, hip pain, they could all be signs that your body just needs a little bit more care.
And there's at least one Aina to help alleviate tight muscles? I see some people shaking their head.
You know what I'm talking about.
You know how these yoga asenas really do help the body and the mind.
Friends, we all know that yoga and health go hand in hand.
Thousands of years ago, Indian scriptures expressed may all be free from disease.
It is this timeless vision of health, harmony, and sustainability that continues to guide our approach.
I'd like to convey regards from the UN Secretary-General himself, António Guterres, as I read his message for this year's International Day of Yoga.
So let's listen to what the SG has to say in his statement.
On the International Day of yoga, we come together to celebrate an ancient practice, emphasizing balance, wholeness, and peaceful engagement with our bodies and the world.
From its deep roots in ancient India, yoga has become truly universal, helping millions of all faiths and all cultures find calm, build strength, and live with purpose.
This year's theme, yoga for healthy aging, speaks to the vital importance of physical and mental well being, mobility, and dignity as populations age across the globe.
Yoga teaches us mindfulness, respect, and care for ourselves, for our planet, and for one another.
On this international day, let us extend that care to the older members of our human family and build a world where every generation can lead a healthy life, Namas Day.
Isn't that a lovely message? I think it really sums up a lot of what the topic, yoga for Healthy Aging is all about.
And we so appreciate the SG sending us the message so that he is here with us in spirit.
I'm privileged now to invite His Excellency, Ambassador Parvatani Hash, the permanent representative of India to the UN to deliver the opening remarks.
Let us welcome His Excellency, the ambassador now.
Thank you, Madam Moderator, Dennis, for the introduction and for reading out the message of the Secretary-General.
Friends, yoga enthusiasts, New York, a big Namaste.
As always, we celebrate the International Day of yoga.
When Prime Minister Narendmodi came up with the idea of having an international day of yoga 12 years ago, it was his vision that it's something that goes to all corners of the world, becomes not only an individual movement, but a mass movement where people lead healthy lives, focus on wellness, and eventually it builds international cooperation.
The simplest yogasa is Namaste, symbolizing the unity of mind and body of humans and nature.
As we gather here to celebrate the International Day of yoga this year with the theme yoga and aging.
While all of you are young, some of us will need a greater focus on how yoga can help us in a smooth aging process.
I have a good fortune of welcoming also yoga Mata Keiko Ekawa.
Again, I have a permission to say that she's 81 years, has been practicing yoga for decades.
And we will hear from her at the end her own experience of what yoga can do in healthy aging.
Once again, I welcome you here.
I look forward to a good yoga session, and I hope as you take the yoga mat and the shirt, you will make yoga an essential part of your life It will not only help you in your health, it will also help you in your work and profession.
It will help you lead a very, very healthy and a fulfilling life.
Thank you very much once again.
Thank you, Ambassador, for your encouraging remarks and for allowing us to have a deeper understanding of Namaste.
It's nice to be reminded of that when we join together, when we hear something all the time, sometimes it kind of loses its meaning.
So we appreciate you giving us a little reminder of what this word, this common word that so many of us use really means.
Being on the North lawn, we're here outdoors.
We have this big sky, we have the helicopters, we have the planes.
But at the same time, we have the beauty of the East River.
We have the Rose Garden right behind us.
It's so special for us to have this connection and come together where we feel one another, and at the same time, we're joined to the natural elements that surround us.
And as the ambassador said, yoga is part of joining us to the greater web of life.
For me and probably for many of you too, being here with the sculpture of the Bust of Gandhi Gi, as I had mentioned earlier before the program started, it brings us yet into another dimension.
It brings us to their special place of stillness and understanding that there is a sense of cooperation, collaboration, and here at the UN, how important Multilateralism and international cooperation really is.
So we know these underlying values of yoga do exist in this building and in each and every one of us.
But I'm going to move on now to that part of the program that everyone is waiting for and that you come here for.
On this beautiful evening, let us begin the first part of our collective yoga protocol.
Are you ready? Ready? What? Are you ready? I think you're getting ready one more time.
Are you ready? No.
Yes.
Okay, now we really are all ready.
So, I am delighted to invite Rica Deke, a renowned yoga master from the art of living.
She's joined us before, and many of you will feel very comfortable in her hands with her and her team.
She's going to be joined by yoga demonstrators Ratnamukani and Ludmila Morozova.
Let us now welcome them to the stage as you ready yourself for the first part of our common yoga protocol.
Please join us up.
Thank.
Okay.
Thank you, Denise.
Happy International Day of yoga, everyone.
How are you all doing? Are you ready to do some yoga together? Yeah.
Good, good, wonderful.
You know, International Day of yoga is a good reminder for ourselves to pay a little bit more attention to our overall well being.
So body, mind, and the self.
And yoga sets a certain rhythm in our life.
When there is rhythm in our body and breath, our mind is come.
When our mind is come, there's harmony within us.
And when there is harmony within us, we naturally spread that harmony all around us.
Today, let's do our small part in creating this ripple of peace and joy, and let's hope it reaches many, many more people.
Sounds good.
Wonderful.
You can see me right from here.
Good.
All right.
Let's close our eyes.
We'll take a few deep breaths in and out.
Deep breath in.
Let go.
Another deep breath in and breathe out.
As we begin our arsena practice, let's do it with full awareness, awareness on our body, awareness on our breath and with a big smile on our face.
Simply enjoy.
Enjoy being right here right now.
One more deep breath in.
Let's go.
We'll chant oh together three times.
Let's take a deep breath in for oh.
O.
Read in.
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Let us all move together in harmony and peace.
When you're ready, you may open your eyes.
We'll begin today with an energizing prana called palabhati.
Now in apalabhati, we take a deep inhalation and forceful exhalation with the contraction of the stomach.
Let me demonstrate and then we'll do it together.
It's something like this.
Sounds good.
All right.
Let's close our eyes.
We'll take a transitional breath in, breathe out.
Read in for Kapalabhati in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in out, in, out, in out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in out and relax, eyes closed, palms on your lap facing the sky.
Just observing your body, your breath.
We'll do another round of apalabhati.
Breathe in for apalabti out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in out, in out and relax.
When you're ready, you may open your eyes and let's stand up.
You have to.
All right.
Let's move our bodies a little bit.
We'll start with gentle movements.
Of our neck first.
As you breathe in, look up, breathe out, chin to the chest.
Breathe in, look up, breathe out, chin to the chest.
Breathe in, look up, breathe out, chin to the chest.
One more time, breathe in, look out.
Feel the stretch in your leg, breathe out, chin to the chest.
Now, this time, as you inhale, you start rotations to the right.
Gentle neck rotation to the right and back.
And as you exhale, go left and down.
Slow, gentle movement in coordination with our breath.
Continue.
Complete the circle and change directions.
This time breathing in to the left and back, breathing out to the right and down.
Continue.
See if there is any tension in your neck region.
Just become aware of it.
One last circle.
As you complete the round, come back to the center.
Now, bring your fingers to your shoulders, elbow close to each other.
As you breathe in, bring your elbow up, and as you breathe out back and down, squeezing your shoulder braids nicely.
Again, continue.
Breathe in, go up and back and down.
Feel this movement.
Bring your elbows in the front and change directions.
This time, breathe in, back and up, breathing out forward and down.
One last circle.
Very nice and relax.
Arms to your side.
Now, check your posture.
Your feet should be about hip width apart, navel is tucked in.
Shoulders are relaxed, arms to the side, chin parallel to the ground.
As you breathe in, bring your arms forward up to the shoulder level, palms are facing each other.
As you breathe out, twist to your right.
Bring your right arm all the way back, and your left palm is to your right shoulder.
Now, here you can press your right foot firmly into the ground and twist a little bit more.
Breathe in, come back to the center, breathe out.
Once again, breathe in and as you breathe out, turn to your left.
Feel the nice twist in your spine.
Deep breaths in and out, breathe in and relax.
Come to the front, relax your arms.
Now, staying in the same position with your feet hip width apart.
As you breathe in, you bring both of your arms up over your head, interlace your fingers, turn your palm facing upward.
Take another deep breath in and come onto your toes.
Tara and palm tree posture.
Really nice for your whole spine.
It gives a nice stretch.
Breathe in as you breathe out, bring your heels down, release your arms.
Now, shift your weight left foot and grab hold of your right foot, place the sole on your inner thigh.
If this is difficult, you can also place your foot right below your knee or next to your ankle, whatever is comfortable for you.
Now, find a spot in front of you that is not moving and steady your gaze.
This will give you a good balance.
Breathing in, lift your arm up, bring your palms together, fingers pointing the sky, breathing out, relax in tree posture.
Rick charsena.
Breathe in.
As you breathe out, relax your arms, relax your leg.
You can shake your left leg a little bit.
Now we do the same on the other side.
Grab hold of your left foot and place it on your right inner thigh.
Again, find a spot in front of you.
Breathing in, lift your arms up, fingers index finger pointing the guy.
Just relax in ksa.
This is a very good posture to bring balance in the body and the mind.
Breathe in.
As you breathe out, relax your arms, relax your leg, Shake your right leg.
Now again, feet are hip with a part, breathing in, lift your arm up over your head.
As you breathe out, bend forward from your waist.
Make sure your back is straight and your biceps are close to your ears.
Gently you may go all the way down.
If you wish, you can bend your knees and place your palms on the ground or catch hold of your ankles.
Breathe in, lengthen your spine, breathe out, bring your chest close to your thighs.
Now here, if you want to go deeper in the arsena, you can straighten your legs.
Continue breathing in and out.
Now take your palms, you can either place them on your knees or your hips and gently, very, very slowly, you may come back up.
Nice.
Now take your palms and place them behind you on your buttocks.
Fingers are facing down.
See if you can bring your elbows tiny bit close to each other.
Breathe in, expand your chest.
And as you breathe out, bend backwards from your lumbar region.
Look up to the sky.
Beautiful clouds moving.
Continue breathing in and out.
Breathe in, come back up, as you breathe out, relax your arms.
Now, bring your feet about three to 3.5 feet apart.
Turn your right foot upwards 90 degrees, left foot inwards about 30 degrees.
Now body has a tendency to tilt a little bit here.
Make sure you correct and your pelvis is facing forward.
Breathing in, lift your arm up to the shoulder level, breathe out, slide your upper body to the right.
Again, take a deep breath here.
As you breathe out, bend to your right side, bringing your right palm just below your right knee.
Both of your arms are in one line coming into chin triangle, breathing in and out.
Feel the stretch on one side and contraction on the other.
Breathing in, lift yourself up, breathing out, relax your arms.
Now let's do the same on the other side.
The left foot is on the outside and right foot is turned inwards.
Breathing in, lift your arm up, breathing out, slide to the left, again, a deep breath in.
And as you breathe out, bend to your left.
Look up to your right palm, your whole body in one plane.
Them su arsena.
Arsena is that, which is steady and enjoyable.
Breathing in, lift yourself up, breathing out, relax your arms, and come back to the center.
Right.
Now, this time, your feet are about shoulder width apart.
Breathing in, lift your arm up in front of you.
As you breathe out, push your hips backwards.
You've done so much work, we are going to sit.
Only thing is the chair is imaginary.
Sit in your comfortable imaginary chair.
Very good.
A little bit more.
Hold it, hold it.
Go down a little.
Hold here.
Deep breath.
Go down, down, down, all the way down.
Awesome.
Now, let's sit with our feet together.
The sole of our feet are together.
You can grab hold of your toes coming into Bdras cobblers pose.
Now here, if you wish, you can bring your knees up and down, flapping your wings like a butterfly.
Nice.
Take a deep breath in, lengthen your spine.
As you breathe out, bend forward as much as you can.
Even if it is like one or 2 ", it's okay.
If you can go down more, that's also good.
Breathing in, come back up, breathing out, relax.
Now, spread your legs in front of you.
Bend your right foot and place it next to your left knee.
Breathing in, lift your right arm up, and breathing out, place the palm behind you.
Now take your left arm.
Your left elbow can either be on your right knee or it can go around the right knee and wrap around, touch your toes.
Breathe in, lengthen your spine, breathe out, twist, and look behind.
Coming into walk across, seated spinal twist.
Continue breathing.
With the next breath, release the posture and come back to the center.
Now we do the same on the left side, bending your left leg, placing your left foot next to your right knee, breathe in, left arm goes up, place the palm behind you.
Take your right elbow, place it on your left knee, or touch your toes, breathe in, lengthen your spine, twist, look behind.
The sarsa gives nice massage to all your internal organs.
Breathe in lots.
Come back to the center.
Now here, we'll take a short break.
We have a special treat for you.
Denise will tell you all about it, and we'll be back again to do more Ana practice.
All.
Thank you.
Thank you, Rica.
Thank you, Ratn and Mila.
Isn't this glorious? Yes.
And don't you feel more lucied, a little bit more lucened, a little bit more relaxed? So we have more, and next up is an advanced yoga demonstration with music.
And we have some special people from the art of living who will be demonstrating.
Let me call them now to the stage.
Wayne Yeh.
Katie Tomar, dval mesh, and Ali on.
These are going to be advanced Asanas, and they require deep physical control, flexibility, and strength, and integrating complex arm balances, deep back bends, inversions, you will see.
But let me ask you, friends, please.
These are advanced yoga arenas, so they're primarily for watching.
And that means I'm going to ask you not to attempt any of them unless you've done them time and time again yourself, okay? So I'm going to say relax more fully.
The music will come, be open to the vibrations of the music, and let that take you in so that you can have a different kind of experience.
This is a multisensorial experience and just be open.
So please welcome me in joining our representatives from the art of living to the stage.
The floor is yours.
A He Who He will they He will the party Welcome Welcome We Wow.
Wow.
What discipline, what practice, repetition, and trust.
Thanks to all of you.
Thanks to you so much for your willingness to demonstrate these advanced yoga asanas.
It's a treat for us to be able to see the beauty of all of this discipline and how you are trusting each other and collaborating in some of these poses as you go through your cycle and you show them to us.
It's really remarkable to do to begin with, and then to be able to be on display and demonstrate it to all of us and to give us that inspiration.
What a remarkable team.
Let's give them another round of applause, please.
Thank you again.
I can't think of a better way for them to inspire us as we start the second part of our common yoga protocol.
So I'm going to invite once again our friends Rica, Mila, and Ratna from Art of Living to join us on the stage so that we can again, if we choose to engage in the second part of our common yoga protocol.
Thank you.
Wow.
That was amazing, wasn't it? Thank you.
All right.
So we begin the second part of our protocols by coming onto our knees and sitting on our heels into Rasin.
This is a very nice posture for digestion.
If you've had a heavy meal, you can sit in this position should help you.
Now, from here, your toes are touching each other and increase the distance between your knees, about 1.5 feet.
Breathe in.
Breathe out, bring your palms and place them in between your knees.
Again, deep breath in and breathing out, walk your palms forward and slowly slide your body forward, bringing your chest, your chin on the ground.
Your arms are all the way out, coming into sarsa Gina wide knee, child's posture, and just relax here.
This releases any tension you may have in your lower back.
Breathe in, come up, walk your palms back.
Now this time, what we'll do is we'll slide our body all the way forward and lie down on our belly.
Our arms are close to each other, feet together, chin or on the ground.
Now, make a fist of your hands and place them under your pelvis.
As you breathe in, lift both of your legs about 6 " above the ground.
Engage your inner thighs, glutes.
Your toes are pointing away from the body.
Breathing in and out in shalla balsa, locust posture.
With the next breath, release the posture, palms to the side, feet together.
Now, bring your palms next to your shoulders.
Your palms are flat on the ground.
Feet remain together.
As you breathe in, lift your chest, chin, forehead above the ground, your belly button is still touching the ground, coming into cobra, Banga.
Deep breath in, look up.
Stay here, breathing in and out.
Another deep breath in.
As you breathe out, come back down, arms close to the body.
Now, grab hold of your ankles, bring your feet close to your buttocks and grab hold of your ankles.
Taking a deep breath in, lift your chin, chest, and thighs above the ground, coming into bow posture, oasina.
Stay here reading in and out.
With the next breath, you may release your arms and legs come back down on the mat.
As you're lying flat on the right, turn your right cheek and place it on the ground.
You can bend your left knee and just rest in crocodile.
Take one deep breath in, let go and gently relax.
Now turn onto your back.
Lying on your back, your arms are close to the body, feet together.
As you breathe in, bring both of your knees as close to the chest as possible.
As you breathe out, take your arms and wrap them around your knees as if you're hugging your knees.
Take another deep breath in.
As you breathe out, see if you can bring your nose or forehead in between your knees, lifting your upper body.
Coming into Pavan Motsen wind release posture.
Breathe in, relax your head, breathe out, release your arms, relax your legs.
Now bend both your legs, putting your feet flat on the ground.
Your palms are facing the ground.
Your heel is slightly touching your middle finger.
The feet are about shoulder width apart.
Now here, as you breathe in, with the help of your palms, lift your hips up in the air.
Coming into bridge posture Sbandasen.
If you want to go deeper in the Asa, you can bring your palms together, interlace your fingers, and see if you can lift your hips tiny bit more.
Deep breaths in and out, breathe in, and as you breathe out, raise your arms, bring your body down on the ground, stretch your legs.
I.
Now with the next breath in, lift both of your legs all the way up.
Your feet are facing the sky, coming into Hlacea or the halacea.
If you feel any tension in your back, you can place your palm on the ground and slide them, bringing them closer to your buttocks.
This will give you a little bit of support.
Breathing in and out here.
Take a deep breath in.
As you breathe out, slowly, very, very slowly bring both your legs down up until the 45 degree angle.
Stay here, take another deep breath in, breathe out, breathe in, and now gently, slowly, slowly as if you have all the time in the wall, bring both of your legs down on the ground and relax.
Arms to the side.
Lying in, shove aa.
Take a deep breath in here and breathe out, relax completely.
Take another deep breath in.
Let's go.
Now with the next breath out, we are going to make a sound like a humming, the sound.
As we do that, shake your whole body from left to right, your feet, knees, everything, the whole upper body.
Let's take a deep breath in.
As you breathe out, make the sound.
And shake your body, shake, shake, shake, feet, knees, hips, chest, arms, your face, and relax.
We'll do this one more time.
Breathe in and make the sound.
Relax.
Breathe in.
Let go relaxing your body more and more.
Feel the weight of your body sinking into the ground.
Let's take a deep breath in.
Let's go.
Gently, you may turn to your right side.
Stay here for a few breaths.
And when you're ready, slowly keeping your eyes closed, sit up, sitting in Patmasan or the Patmas whatever is comfortable.
Now, take your right hand, bringing your thumb onto your right nostril, your ring finger onto your left nostril.
The two fingers in between are resting on your forehead.
Your left palm is on your left knee.
Now, close your right nostril and slowly, gently breathe in through your left nostril.
Close the left nostril, breathe out from the right nostril.
Breathe in from the right nostril.
Breathe out from the left nostril.
Let's continue for a few rounds, long, deep breaths, breathing in from left, breathing out from right, breathing in from right, breathing out from left.
Continue.
And as you breathe out from your left nostril, you may relax your hand, relax your breath.
Keep sitting with our eyes closed.
Let's take a few deep breaths in and out, breathing in and breathing out.
Okay.
Let's take another deep breath in.
And let's go.
Now, let's become aware of all the noises in our environment, whatever it may be sound of the traffic, people talking.
Just become aware of all the sounds in your environment.
You're in harmony with your environment.
Take a deep breath in and let go.
Now, become aware of your body.
Your body is a wonderful gift from nature.
Respect and honor your body.
Become aware of your feet, your knees, thighs and hips, both of your legs, your genitals and abdomen, Be aware of your stomach navel region.
Chest and shoulders.
Your right arm, your left arm, your neck and throat, face, and your head.
Become aware of your whole body.
Take a deep breath in.
Let go.
Now, become aware of your thoughts.
Just let them come.
Good thoughts, bad thoughts, let them be.
Take a deep breath in.
Let go.
Now, become aware of your feelings.
Pleasant feelings, unpleasant feelings.
Let them be Take a deep breath in and breathe out.
You are peace.
You are joy.
Let's take one more deep breath in.
Let's go.
Once again, become aware of your feelings.
Take a deep breath in.
Let go.
Now, become aware of your thoughts.
Another breath in.
Let go.
Once again, become aware of your body and your surroundings.
Let's take a deep breath and let go.
Servian Suina Servi Nya Servi Patron Penonyn S.
Let's take a deep breath in and breathe out.
And from this space of gratitude and abundance, let's thank the yoga lineage, all the masters who have given us this precious knowledge.
Another deep breath in.
Let go sending best wishes and good vibrations into the world.
Slowly and gently whenever you're ready, you may open your eyes.
Nate.
Thank you.
I think you'll agree with me, it's kind of hard to break the stillness, right, of this space that we just experienced.
I know that I feel much lighter, don't you? Yes, yeah, we do feel lighter, that's for sure.
So thank you, Rica, Rat Ni, Emila appreciate that, the Asanas and also the way that we could come in to oneself and to have that modified meditation, um At the same time, the stillness, I also feel very energized.
How about you? Are you feeling more energized, too? Yes, right? More energized and this sense of stillness and as she said so beautifully, this sense of harmony.
So let's just take that in.
As we wind down with our program now, we're coming to the final segment.
Let's just take it in.
Here at the United Nations North lawn with this big sky, the smell of the lawn I'm privileged to invite next our special guest this evening.
Yogmata Keiko Akawa originally hails from Japan, but she's no stranger to the N or to those of us who have participated in World yoga Day observances.
I remember the day very clearly when I first met Yogta That was several years ago now at one of the very early UN yoga day observances, which was held inside the UN building, the building right behind me and in front of you.
Just before that program was to start, I felt such powerful energy surrounding me.
And what did I do? I took a look to my right and two seats away, there she was.
Since then, Yog Mata has attended every one of the International Day of yoga celebrations here at the UN, including, as you heard the ambassador say, when the honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, joined us and where we set a Guinness World record.
Do you remember that? Yes.
Yes, you were here.
Absolutely.
I see some people here shaking their head.
Yes, some of you were here.
I know some of the people who support us and are here all the time.
Absolutely.
Yogmata joined us then.
She joined us for World Meditation Day and other events that are held at the UN.
So let me tell you a little bit about Yogmata.
For you who don't know her, Yogmata means mother of yoga.
And she really is a spiritual mother to millions and millions.
You see, her mission, which she spent decades upon decades upon decades is to foster inner awakening and world harmony, creating a better world, a more peaceful world through authentic Himalayan meditation practices.
This has earned her recognition as one of the few living Himalayan great saints to bring these ancient teachings to a global audience.
Of course, she herself traveled to the Himalayans and underwent authentic yoga training and practices.
And it's no surprise that she sought after not only in India, not only in Japan, but across the world.
Without further ado, let us give a very warm welcome to tonight's special yoga master Yog Matagi.
Please join us on the stage now.
Thank you.
Excellency, honor, guest and dear friend.
My name is Yoga Mata Kekaikawa.
It is a great honor and joy to be here today at the United Nations on the International Day of Yoga, thanks to kind invitation of the permanent mission of India and the support of the ambassador of India to the United Nations.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi, whose vision led to the establishment of the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations.
This day is precious opportunity to people around the world to remember, appreciate, and practice the ancient wisdom of yoga.
It is truly gift to the humanity.
First encountered yoga.
When I was 18-years-old, I suddenly developed acne on my face and tried many different treatment, but nothing seemed to work.
Eventually, I discover yoga.
Soon after I went to retreat yoga Ashram at that time, almost no one in Japan knew about yoga.
Yoga changed my life.
At first, I was fascinated by the beauty and the grace of Asana.
Through practice, I experienced how yoga is strengthening the body, improve circulation, increase vitality, and bring balancing to daily life.
As the body become balanced and the mind also become calm and anxiety decrease clarity, grow and positive energy alight.
Yoga support health in many ways.
It improve flexibility, strengthening the body, the balancing the nervous system, and help the release stress through the conscious breathing.
I have practiced yoga for more than 60 years.
In my studies, I traveled throughout India and visited many yoga Ashram.
After the age of 79, I went deep into Himaa.
After seven years of intensive yoga practice and deep meditation, I attained the ultimate Samadhi.
This is the highest state of Samadhi view the body, the mind, and the breast, even that this.
After that, I performed underground Shi demonstrate throughout India for 16 years sharing the profound wisdom of yoga with many people.
Today, I am 81-years-old and continue to like and achieve life.
I teach meditation and enlightenment, travel around the world, and practice yoga every day.
All right.
I consider this to be the great gift that yoga has given me.
Yoga is much more than physical exercise.
The words yoga mean union.
It is a union body and mind, breast and awareness and the individual are universal.
Yoga help us reconnect with our deepest and truest nature.
Yoga was born in the ancient India and has been passed down through the practice of great sage over thousand years.
True happiness does not come only from acquiring more things.
It comes from purify ourselves finding inner valance and returning to our natural state of peace.
Health is not simply a sense of illness.
The health is a humanity of the body, mind, and spirit.
Likewise, longevity is not simply living long life.
It is a living with a purpose and gratitude, love, and vitality throughout our lives.
Today, our world face many collage, including conflict, division, loneliness, environment, problem, and mental stress.
Yet peace is not impossible dream.
Peace began with each one of us.
When there is peace in our heart, there is a peace in our family.
When family live in peace, communicate become peaceful.
When communicate live in peace, nation, understanding and respect In this way, inner peace lead towards peace.
Yoga and meditation are powerful parts that guide us toward the peace.
On this International Day of yoga, I encourage you to bring yoga into your daily life.
Care for your body, calm your mind, deepen your breast, and discover your inner light.
May you be healthy, May you enjoy long and fulfilling life? May your heart be filled with peace and may our world is blessed with greater harmony, compassion and understanding.
Thank you very much.
So Thank you, Yognji, for gracing us with your presence, for blessing this evening, and for sharing your special personal story about how yoga has been the greatest gift for your life and how it's influenced you in so many ways.
Thank you for serving to inspire us in unlimited ways and capacities and for us to see this long term results, 60 years of continued practice of yoga in its fullness and its richness.
We can't deny that there has been such an incredible benefit and outcome, not only for you, but for millions and millions of people around the world.
Again, we're grateful for you to be with us, to bless us on this special occasion.
Thank you so much, Yog Matagi.
So, before I invite His Excellency Ambassador Parvo Thani again to take the stage, I would just like to remind you of a few housekeeping things as our session comes to a close.
I can already see some people are taking leave and taking their mats.
Please take the mats, get your T shirt, but also remember to collect your goody bag that we've arranged for you at the venue.
You'll see some of the goody bags behind this stage on the plaza of the UN where they're being distributed.
Please share your photos on social media, right? We want to hear from you.
How can we hear from you unless you share these photos, right? Join us with the hashtag.
World Yoga Day, International Day of Yoga.
This has been a big celebration the 12th year, right? Yes.
Let's hear from you.
Thank you.
Thank you for coming today, being with us here in person.
But I also want to say thank you to everyone joining at the webcast because we know that there are millions and millions of people who are tuning in.
They're tuning in right now live, and they'll be seeing this for days to come, weeks to come, and years to come.
And we appreciate your energy and your intention of being with us and celebrating World Yoga Day yet again.
I think that we've had a very successful day and that we've all enjoyed ourselves.
So let me now ask you to one more time extend a very warm welcome to the ambassador as he takes the podium for one last time.
Thank you very much for your participation and presence today until the next yoga day, a big Nas day, and continue your yoga practice throughout the year.
See you again next year.
Namaste.