The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) celebrated the ninth International Yoga Day today with a range of activities to promote the practice of yoga and its numerous benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The Physical Education Section of the Institute began the celebrations by organising a 30-Day Countdown to the 9th International Day of Yoga from May 23 with a series of yoga sessions and challenges, including artistic yoga, a headstand competition, a quiz on yoga, yogic kriya workshop, meditation, and so on. The 30-Day Countdown to the IDY-2023 provided participants with a diverse range of yoga experiences focused on gratitude, back health, balance, flexibility, strength, stress relief, and mindfulness.

The main event today saw participants from all age groups performing yoga asanas, pranayama, and sahaja yoga during a demonstration and practice session guided by Ms Tulsa Pujhari, yoga instructor at IITGN, in the opulent sports complex of the Institute. The session also informed the participants about the specific benefits of each asana and how to perform them. This was followed by a special lecture on the benefits of incorporating yoga into our lives by Dr Vijayalakshmi and a guest lecture by  Mrs Rajni Moona on how to follow yoga practices properly in day-to-day life.

A competition for Yoga Teams of IITGN gathered much interest, who presented their skills in Yoga Dance, Traditional Yoga, and Yoga in a Pair. The winners were facilitated with prizes. The event concluded with a healthy Yogic Breakfast for the participants. The IITGN community, including students, faculty, staff and their family members, enthusiastically participated in all the activities.

IITGN has always encouraged its community to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle by providing world-class facilities for various indoor and outdoor sports/activities at its state-of-the-art Sports Complex. IITGN has been organising Yoga Day celebrations as an annual event ever since its announcement in the year 2015 with an aim to create greater awareness about the benefits of this ancient Indian science in day-to-day life.