Hindu Council Plans ‘Health For Humanity’ Yogathon

Hindu Council Of New Zealand Plans ‘Health For Humanity’ Yogathon

AROGYA (Aotearoa Research Organisation for Generic Yoga and Ayurveda), a division of Hindu Council of New Zealand, is launching a nationwide ‘Health for Humanity’ Yogathon from 2 to 16 April 2011 which aims to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The Sanskrit word “arogya” itself means “disease-free and healthy”.

AROGYA was formed in 2008 during the second NZ Hindu Conference with the theme "Sustaining New Zealand communities through health benefits of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda". The conference was inaugurated by respected Te Arikinui King Tuheitia, the Maori King. The conference provided a platform for organisations dealing with yoga, meditation and ayurveda to showcase the health benefits these techniques can provide to the New Zealand society.

Yoga is growing increasingly popular worldwide, including in New Zealand.

During the two-week ‘Health for Humanity’ Yogathon from 2 to 16 April 2011, the Hindu Council of New Zealand and participating organisations will encourage their members and others across the country to together perform one-quarter million 'Surya Namaskar', a sequence of yoga postures.

Surya Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures of well-balanced movements linked dynamically with easy breathing technique, and provides immense health benefits to both body and mind. Some benefits include improvement in the digestive system, strengthening abdominal muscles, improving lung function and oxygenating the blood, improving muscle flexibility, and keeping the body flexible. It can also help in improving memory and promoting better sleep.

“The purpose of Yogathon is to promote yoga widely, to make it a part of school curriculum in future, encourage healthy living and invite all yoga schools in New Zealand to participate” said Dr Guna Magesan, General Secretary of Hindu Council of New Zealand.

In addition to divisions of Hindu Council of New Zealand such as AROGYA, Hindu Elders Foundation, Hindu Youth New Zealand and New Zealand Hindu Students Forum, Yoga schools from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin have shown interest.

“This program is open to people of all ages, gender, and races. Although we are only at the planning stages, we have been receiving encouraging responses from a number of yoga centres and their teachers, community organisations and many individuals”, Dr Magesan added.

Yogathon organising committee invites various yoga centres, schools and tertiary institutes, social, cultural, and spiritual and community organisations, regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, to participate in this ‘Health for Humanity’ Yogathon and learn, this unique Yoga technique and continue practicing beyond the ‘Health for Humanity’ Yogathon.

ENDS

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