[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Indian Embassy marks Yoga Day with special demo" ids="153910,153911,153912,153913,153914,153915,153916,153917,153918"] RIYADH — The Embassy of India, Riyadh, celebrated the 3rd International Day of Yoga by organizing a special yoga session at the embassy's multi-purpose hall on Wednesday. Officials of various diplomatic missions in Riyadh, Indian embassy officials, their spouses and Indian community members participated. A renowned female Saudi yoga trainer, Noura Al-Wayeli, demonstrated popular yoga asanas (postures) essential for fitness and wellbeing. The session was concluded with a rendering of the Shanti Mantra (prayer for peace). In the run up to the 3rd International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations on June 21, the Embassy of India organized a series of activities and events to popularize yoga as a holistic approach to achieve peace, happiness, internal and external harmony, and complete well-being. A precursor event was organized in the International Indian School, Riyadh, with the participation of over 700 boys on June 8 under the theme "Yoga for Health". A Riyadh-based Indian yoga trainer explained the benefits of yoga for a healthy lifestyle and trained the students and teachers in various asanas. On June 10, the mission organized a yoga demonstration cum training session at the Embassy of India Club, Riyadh, for ladies, in which spouses of diplomats from 15 foreign missions as well as the Indian diplomats took part. A renowned Saudi yoga trainer, Sara Amoudi, briefed the audience on the benefits of yoga for a sound physical and mental health and its growing popularity in the Arab world. This was followed by a demonstration of popular asanas, which were practiced by the participants. Ambassador Ahmad Javed, in his introductory talk before the session, stressed that by taking yoga to people across social strata and in different age groups, we can contribute to the enhancement of physical and mental health. The mission organized a Yoga Quiz Competition at the International Indian School, Riyadh, on June 15 with the participation of over 100 girls. Also an online Yoga Quiz Competition was conducted through the Twitter page of the embassy.
