In these very interesting times, many of you have been fortunate enough to spend more time with your family. Dinners, playtime, conversations, game night, home-schooling, movies, and more have been on the family agenda these last few months. Sports and outdoor activities will certainly be on the schedule as summer now approaches. You may have to be more creative since vacationing and visiting amusement parks may not be accessible currently. One way to explore that creativity is to invite the commencement of the summer months with International Yoga Day.
This year, International Yoga Day will be celebrated all across the world on June 21st. It is a wonderful way to commemorate the origins of yoga, which started over 5,000 years ago in India. This special day reminds us of the principles that were taught from ancient texts and now popularized through a source of movement and meditation. Yoga helps anyone that comes to the mat to connect to their minds, bodies, and spirits. They experience a deeper connection and appreciation of self and then share that love and gratitude with the people they encounter.
International Yoga Day was first celebrated in 2015 on the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day of the year and tens of thousands all over the world joined together to practice yoga. In celebrating the fifth year of this special day, the theme is “Yoga at Home & Yoga with Family.” This seems perfect and relevant with the current nature of our times.
This can be another wonderful opportunity for the family to congregate together for an activity that celebrates love and unification. What are some ways you can do yoga together as a family? Here are a few ideas…..
If all or some of your family members are new to yoga, there’s nothing to worry about. There are plenty of resources that can help you on your yoga journey together. Decide whether or not you’d like to practice yoga postures together or engage in a breathing exercise. Moving together and experimenting with the wide variety of yoga poses can be a lot of fun. Consider searching for videos on YouTube or other social media sources. You can find lessons on how to practice poses like Downward Facing Dog or Crow Pose.
You can learn a commonly practice yoga sequence if you search for the “Sun Salutation.” This is a popular set of yoga poses that flow together in many yoga classes. It would be quite appropriate to learn and practice on International Yoga Day. Even if you do not master the poses or flowing sequences, the main intention is about being together as a family unit and having fun.
Wanting something more soothing and relaxing? Maybe the household has been a bit high-strung the last few months and it is time to release some tension. Once again, turn to some social media resources to discover some easy-to-do meditation exercises. Sitting together and learning some breathing techniques to calm the mind and body can be a wonderful goal for the family.
Simple Guided Meditation for Beginners
Add music to your yoga celebration, too. Whether you are doing a moving practice or sitting in meditation, some background inspirational music can add to the experience. A musical resource that you can find on YouTube is an artist called Songs of Eden. They have a variety of beautiful music designed for the yoga practice, but they have a special creation to celebrate International Yoga Day. It is a 60-minute yoga playlist that you can have playing in your living room while the family practices yoga.
So, if you’re looking to feel inspired on the first day of summer, consider bringing the family together for a unique and special activity. Unify on International Yoga Day on June 21st with a celebratory yoga practice.
Namaste