In December 2014, June 21st was declared by the United Nations as International Yoga Day. The Seattle yoga community has many events to chose from to celebrate this special day for yoga. This year, the date falls on a Tuesday! Various Seattle area studios are hosting special classes and workshops throughout the weekend in honor of International Yoga Day.

International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th United Nations session of the General Assembly, said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action … a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”

Former United Nations president, Sam Kutesa, emphasized this point: “For centuries, people from all walks of life have practiced yoga, recognizing its unique embodiment of unity between mind and body. Yoga brings thought and action together in harmony.”

In a statement UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also pointed out the global benefits of Yoga: “Yoga is a sport that can contribute to development and peace. Yoga can even help people in emergency situations to find relief from stress.”

In the words of one of its most famous practitioners and teachers of yoga, the late B. K. S. Iyengar states that “Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”

Check out these awesome studios and events celebrating International Yoga Day in the Seattle and greater Seattle areas.
#1 Aham Yoga (Redmond)

International Yoga Day Aham Yoga 2016 wp

Aham Yoga is celebrating all weekend! From June 17th-19th, they will be hosting a variety of classes and workshops. Learn how to Jai Neti, about yoga philosophy and the story behind yoga poses, do yoga and so much more! Check their entire itinerary of events here.

#2 Seattle Iyengar Yoga (Ballard)

Seattle Iyengar Yoga in Ballard is offering a donation ($5) based all levels class on June 19 at 9am. This coincides with Father’s Day as well!

#3 North Bellevue Community Center

North Bellevue Community Center International Yoga Day 2016

# 4 The Alive & Shine Center (Bellevue)

Give thanks for the beautiful gifts of yoga! Celebrate the International Day of Yoga with these FREE classes on Tuesday June 21st! Visit the center’s Facebook Event page to sign-up!

  • 7:00am Tune Yoga
  • 4:30pm Empower Hour
  • 7:30pm Enlighten Yoga
#5 Evolve Local Yoga (Leavenworth)

Join Joanna Dunn, Keri Carlton and myself from Evolve Local Yoga, to celebrate the International Day of Yoga, on June 21st, at 6pm, OUTSIDE at the Lions Club Park! Enjoy fresh air, birds singing, trees and grass, while awakening & energizing your body and mind, with a special Summer Solstice practice, to honor the change of light, that will include a creative Sun Salutation flow, yummy hands on adjustments and a calming & restorative sequence. Join us for this special event, to celebrate, honor and enjoy the ancient practice of yoga with the rest of the world!!

The event is open to all levels and is FREE or donation ($5 suggested for donation)!!!

Visit the Evolve Local Yoga Facebook event for more info and to sign-up.

#6 Get Happy 5K walk and Meditate

Get Happy 5k Walk Run meditation

Join the Get Happy 5K Walk & Meditate on June 18 in Downtown
Bellevue. This event celebrates wellness and community with a flavor of
meditation and service. Conducted by the volunteers of the Art of Living
Foundation’s Seattle Chapter, this event will feature a 5k walk and a
complimentary meditation session for all participants. You can buy tickets for only $19 here (prices will increase after June 14th).

The 5K walk and meditate event is a part of the ‘Get Happy Seattle’ campaign to
create a wave of happiness throughout the greater Seattle area. Free meditation
sessions are being held in various avenues such as public libraries, community
groups, yoga and wellness centers, corporate offices, hospitals, police
departments and many others.

#7 Mariners 1st YOGA DAY at Safeco Field

mariners-yoga-day-2016-b

The Mariners are excited to announce the 1st Annual Yoga Day at Safeco Field presented by Yoga Alliance and Pro Positive Yoga in partnership with Seattle Yoga News & Yoga Panda. This unique event gives fans the opportunity to combine two components of an active lifestyle – yoga and baseball!

Andrew Tanner of Yoga Alliance and local Seattle Yoga Teacher Tina Templeman will be co-teaching this one of a kind class on Safeco Field! During the class local musician Nick Deonigi will be playing live acoustic guitar. Savitri of the Alive & Shine Center will also be doing a closing meditation afterwards.

Whether you consider yourself a “yogi” or it’s your first time practicing, Safeco Field will provide you with a unique setting for your class!

Your ticket for the events provides you with:

  1. A ticket to watch the Sunday afternoon game against the Cardinals
  2. Admission to the private post-game yoga session, starting 30 minutes following the conclusion of the game
  3. Special Mariners yoga mat

Pricing:

  • $30 View Level
  • $50 Main Level

The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, June 24 at 5:00 p.m. Space is limited!

Join the community on the Seattle Mariners Yoga Day Facebook Event page. See you on the field!

If we’re missing your event, email us at contact@seattleyoganews.com and we’ll get your event listed! 

Happy International Yoga Day!

[Photo by Gerhard Lipold | CC BY]

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