BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Yoga is gaining momentum as a fitness and wellbeing activity in Solomon Islands, following a successful International Day of Yoga celebration that attracted close to a hundred participants in Honiara on Sunday.
Men, women, young girls and boys gathered at the Heritage Park Hotel for the special session, which promoted physical fitness, balance and a healthy lifestyle through yoga.
The event was hosted by the Indian High Commission team from Papua New Guinea, who travelled from Port Moresby to Solomon Islands to mark the annual celebration.
Speaking to members of the media, including representatives from SIBC and Island Sun shortly after the session, Indian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rajeev Kumar, described the event as an important occasion and expressed his encouragement over the strong participation.
“This event is very important. Today we are celebrating the International Day of Yoga here in Honiara at the Heritage Park Hotel.
“Here, as we have seen, we have a large participation from Solomon Islands people. I’m encouraged,” Kumar said.
Kumar said the celebration was part of a global movement promoting yoga as a way of improving physical, mental and social wellbeing.
He explained that the International Day of Yoga was introduced after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the idea to the United Nations in 2014, leading to the declaration of 21 June as the official day of celebration.
The High Commissioner said the Honiara event was held after the team had already celebrated the occasion in Port Moresby.
“Since we were celebrating there, we could not have done it on the same day here. So, we are here, we have travelled all the way from Port Moresby to Honiara to celebrate the International Day of Yoga,” he said.
Kumar said the turnout showed growing interest in yoga in Solomon Islands and hopes future celebrations can attract even more participants.
“Since this is my first celebration of this kind on this island, next year perhaps we can have a larger venue where we can have more people with the support of the media,” he said.
Meanwhile, Teacher of Indian Culture at the High Commission of India in Port Moresby, Dr Davender Singh, said yoga offers important benefits for overall fitness and wellbeing.
“Some of its key benefits include improving flexibility, strength and balance, enhancing posture and body awareness, supporting heart and lung health, boosting immunity and overall physical fitness,” Dr Singh said.
He added that yoga also helps improve concentration, memory, emotional balance and mindfulness.
“So, yoga benefits the whole person — physically, mentally, spiritually and socially,” Dr Singh said.
With sport continuing to promote health, discipline and active lifestyles in Solomon Islands, yoga provides another pathway for communities to engage in regular physical activity beyond traditional sporting codes.
The International Day of Yoga is celebrated globally every year on 21 June after being adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The first celebration was held in 2015, with the day aimed at raising awareness of yoga’s benefits and encouraging healthier lifestyles worldwide.
Photo credit: Richard Menanopo
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