Mumbaikars to roll out mats for first Yoga Day

MUMBAI: The city is set to resemble a large yoga mat on Sunday as various institutes prepare to celebrate the first International Yoga Day. From Marine Drive to Santacruz, Bandra to Juhu, several centres are preparing to host elaborate displays and training sessions.
The 97-year-old Yoga Institute at Prabhat Colony has lined up free camps for obesity and stress management as well as for women.
Kaivalyadham that trains navy personnel, police and postal employees, will host multiple gatherings with the largest numbering 300 people at Kalina Stadium, says joint director, administration, Subodh Tiwari. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation has drafted 150 instructors and volunteers to teach easy stretches and pranayam to people for yoga by the bay programme on Marine Drive.
The western suburbs will witness a gathering of 100 trained teachers at ISKCON at 10.30am. “They will perform surya namaskar to Amitabh Bachchan’s rendition of Hanuman Chalisa,” said organizer Deepak Patel of the Yog Vinyasa Institute. Lord Shiva's asanas and a Bharatnatyam dance fusion on Goddess Durga are also scheduled.
“Several trainers are Bohri Muslims, Christians and Parsis whom I met during my stint at Saifee Hospital. They do not recite Hindu chants and can utter positive affirmations,” Patel said.
Over in Powai, which is home to several corporate executives, a local outfit named Shammi’s Yogalaya has devised the ‘Powai Yoga Festival’. In Bandra, Yogacara is hosting meditation classes, wellness talks and ayurvedic consultations.
Experts said, ‘yogasanas’ are performed on an empty stomach so it is best to not eat anything for four to five hours before the session.