Yoga Day Celebrations Unite Over 700 in Seoul: A Journey from ‘Me to We’

The Indian Embassy in Seoul celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21.

Back in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, with the support of 175 member states.

This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” really drove home the point that our personal well-being is totally intertwined with the health of our planet.

The embassy dished out some cool yoga history, telling us that this ancient practice dates back approximately 3,000 years. The principles we know today were actually written down in the Yoga Sutras by a Hindu sage named Patanjali around 200 BC.

Patanjali, often called the father of modern yoga, penned the Yoga Sutras – a collection of Sanskrit aphorisms that break down the theory and practices of ancient yoga.

At the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar dropped some wisdom, saying that yoga teaches us we’re not just lone wolves, but crucial parts of nature’s big picture.

He emphasized that the health of everything on Earth is connected. Kumar echoed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words, saying, “Yoga transitions us from ‘Me to We.'” Talk about a mindset shift!

After the event, the embassy shared some exciting news with The Korea Herald. They’re partnering up with Wonkwang Digital University and Busan University of Foreign Studies to offer some seriously advanced yoga and wellness programs. We’re talking degrees all the way up to doctoral level, folks!

The event was a hit, drawing in over 700 yoga enthusiasts. It was a real melting pot, with Koreans, embassy officials, and members of the Indian community and diplomatic corps all getting their zen on together.