Cuban amateurs celebrate International Yoga Day

Havana, Jun 21 (RHC) Under the slogan "Yoga for harmony and peace", nearly 300 Cuban amateurs celebrated International Day at Havana´s Ciudad Deportiva Sports Center.

The Indian Ambassador to Cuba Dr. Sarvesvaran Janakiraman and the Vice President of the Institute of Sports and Recreation (INDER) Raul Fornes presided over the celebration that included typical Indian dances and a Yoga session by professors Purit Kumar (India) and Eduardo Pimentel (Cuba).

In recognition of its universal popularity, on December 11, 2014, the UN proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day, with resolution 69/131, in order to raise awareness of its health benefits.

This ancient physical-mental-spiritual discipline, created in India over 5,000 years ago, is practiced nowadays by around 500 million people worldwide.

Regarding Cuba, INDER estimates that some 10,000 nationals practice yoga.

Yoga professor Pimentel, who heads the Cuban Yoga Association (ACY), told Prensa Latina that the number and diversity of practitioners is presently growing. (Source: PL)