'Yoga helps make life a pleasant experience'

In another curtain-raiser event ahead to the first International Day of Yoga on June 21, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, an Indian mystic and humanitarian, stressed the relevance of yoga in today's world saying it helps make life a pleasant experience.

"While we may be the generation that enjoys most comforts and conveniences, we are not necessarily the most joyful and peaceful generation," he said at a talk on 'Relevance of Yoga in Modern Life' at the Indian Embassy here Monday.

Calling yoga a tool and technology, Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation who has addressed international forums including the prestigious World Economic Forum at Davos, said the dimension of transforming into joyful human beings is what yoga is all about.

"While we have science and technology for external comfort, we should learn to use the tool and technology of yoga for internal well-being," Vasudev, author of nearly 100 books in eight languages, said.

Today about two billion people of the world are doing some form of yoga, and it should grow more, Vasudev said.

Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K. Singh said the Indian government is planning to celebrate the First International Day of Yoga in all countries. The Indian Embassy in Washington will celebrate the day at an event on the National Mall at Sylvan Theatre in association with Yoga organizations in the region called as 'Friends of Yoga'.

The free event open for public would feature an exclusive video message by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event could also feature yoga demonstrations by experts and Indian dance and music.

He recalled that Modi in his address at the UN General Assembly had described Yoga as "an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition" that "embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment."

Indian Embassy is organizing a series of curtain raiser yoga events during the months of May-June 2015, including at the World Bank, at Durga Temple and Rajdhani Temple in Virginia.