Surya Namaskars In New York
MOUNT KISCO, NEW YORK, January 22, 2011: For Lower Hudson Valley residents, a free public workshop Sunday will teach the 10 yogic poses and breathing techniques that make up a sun salutation or surya namaskar.
Since 2007, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, a nonprofit socio-cultural organization, has sought to popularize surya namaskar by organizing a two-week yogathon across the country. ‘On a philosophical level, we believe that our physical well-being is connected to the celestial bodies,’ said Pragya Kant Manglik, general secretary of HSS for the northeast region. ‘Life on earth would not be possible without sun, and the salutations are a recognition of a life source.’
The yogathon, whose motto is Health for Humanity, aims to create awareness about yoga and its advantages by dedicating 1 million salutations to surya or sun between Jan.15 and Jan. 30. Last year, the event came within striking distance of the goal, with about 9,000 people offering close to 945,000 salutations.
