YOGA IN MANHATTAN'S TIMES SQUARE

SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATED WITH YOGA
TAKEOVER OF NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE

www.theprovince.com - People around the world were up at the crack of dawn on Friday to celebrate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Thousands of people from the steel canyons of New York to the stone figures of England took part in solstice celebrations marking the beginning of summer, while south of the Equator, celebrants marked the official start of winter. In England, more than 20,000 people gathered to see in the dawn at Stonehenge, police estimated. Although cloud cover prevented bright sunshine, a joyous spirit prevailed with music and dancing.
In New York City's Times Square, more than 15,000 yoga enthusiasts signed up to roll out mats from 7:30 a.m., with classes going all day. 

The "Mind over Madness" event on Friday included free classes, activities and giveaways from 7.30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Fifteen thousand people registered to roll out their yoga mats and join in. All skill levels and ages were welcome. President of Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event Tim Tompkins says that part of the event's appeal was finding stillness and calm in the middle of the city rush.
The summer solstice tradition has grown from just three people to more than 15,000 and is now in its 11th year. "It's a counterpoint to the other big solstice celebration, New Year's Eve," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event.

One of the busiest crossroads in the world was coming to a standstill as yoga enthusiasts took over Manhattan's Times Square to celebrate the longest day of the year. Thousands of people rolled out their yoga mats throughout the day. Across the ocean, in England, police say more than 20,000 people gathered at the famed Stonehenge monument to celebrate the solstice Friday morning. Cloud cover prevented bright sunshine at dawn but a joyous spirit prevailed. Increasingly, practitioners of yoga routines performed publicly as a sign of unity and peace among men and to teach that the crazy mind needs a moment of calm and serenity.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Yoga prescribes physical, mental and spiritual disciplines which will free one from mental and physical diseases. ... Asana -”bodily postures” This process of various exercises and bodily postures brings physical and mental steadiness as well as health and vigor.  Pranayama - “control of breath”.  Prana means life air and yama means to control.  It involves controlling the inhalation, exhalation and the retention of the air we breathe. ... By regularly practicing Yoga, Pranayana (breathing exercises) and by maintaining a natural life style in one’s eating, resting, work, etc., a person can be fully relaxed and free from tension and anxiety.  When a person maintains these practices properly, he or she will be free from heart diseases and mental anxiety. 

T.D. Singh, Ph.D. - Śrīla Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Mahārāja :
“Science and Religion - Present and Future” - “Yoga”
Bhaktivedanta Institute - http://www.scienceandscientist.org/
http://www.krishnascience.com  -  http://www.bhaktisvarupadamodara.com/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar