Around 5,000 people perform yoga in Chennai

Around 5,000 people, mostly school and college students, participated in a yoga session in Chennai organised by The Art of Living Foundation to mark the first International Yoga Day on Sunday, said an official.

“Students from nearly 20 colleges and six schools participated in the yogathan. Around 5,000 people participated in the programme,” Rajalakshmi Swaminathan told.

The yogathan was held at Pachaiyappas College ground.

She said participants learnt and practiced Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) from Rudresh Kumar from Bengaluru who holds the speed record for performing this asana.

“The participants did 25 sets of Surya Namaskar. After that meditation was done,” Swaminathan said.

According to her, members of the foundation do yoga at the Marina beach here every day.

Meanwhile, Brahmakumaris – a spiritual organisation – will be conducting a yoga programme here at the Meenakshi College for Women on Sunday evening.

B.K. Sundaresan, media coordinator, told that there will be a talk on the benefits of meditation following which Raja Yoga will be practised.

“The yoga will be for 40 minutes. Raja Yoga is for the mind to connect with the super power (God),” Sundaresan said. (IANS)