IAIE, Fight4Balance and India News organize International Day of Yoga 2021 in Brisbane

The 2021 International Day of Yoga was organized by the Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE), Fight4Balance and India News in conjunction with the Art of Living group, near the Mahatma Gandhi Statue at Roma Street Parkland, Spring Hill, Brisbane on Saturday, 19 June 2021. The event was supported by the Indian High Commission in Canberra.

At the event IAIE CEO Dr Ashutosh Misra welcomed the participants and guests and highlighted that India’s stellar leadership in yoga is now recognised globally, since the United Nations announced 21 June as the International Yoga day, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 27 September 2014 speech in the UN General Assembly. He said that India’s proposal had received the support and co-sponsorship of 177 nations which is a record itself. Dr Misra also said that as Covid-19 continues to upend lives and livelihoods around the world, the relevance of yoga has become more profound to maintain a healthy body and mind. He also delivered a special note of acknowledgement for the Indian High Commission for supporting the event for the second year in a row.

Dr Ashutosh Misra

India News chairman and publisher Dr Ram Mohan also in his welcome remarks thanked the Indian High Commission, Fight4Balance and Art of Living for their support and emphasized on the relevance of yoga in the current scenario.

Mr Stephen Illidge, CEO of Fight4Balance that helps children with mental disabilities said that kids need to build mental and psychological resilience and yoga is a great way to do it. He said that Australians love India’s soft power appeal including yoga very much and IAIE and Fight4Balance can play an important role in creating greater awareness about yoga and bilateral friendship, and his charity was proud to connect with the Indian community for the event and beyond.

Dr Ram Mohan

The session was conducted by Ms Seema Lathker of the Art of Living. IAIE Sports and Wellness program coordinator Dr Amol Wagholikar and Board Member Mr Muthuraj Guruswamy, local community champions and family and friends of the participating institutions were there amongst the participants.

By Dr Ashutosh Misra