Press Release
UNITED STATES, February 1, 2007: Governor Brad Henry pronounced January 28, 2007 as “Yoga Awareness Day” for Oklahoma and Mayor Kathy Taylor did the same for her city, Tulsa. During the last two weeks, through the country from the San Francisco Bay area to Boston to Houston, mainstream Americans joined with Indian-Americans in learning about and performing the yoga postures of “Surya Namaskar,”or “Sun Salutations.” The physical, mental and spiritual health benefits of doing the Surya Namaskar were directly experienced by individuals from four to 70 years old at more than 100 centers throughout the United States from January 14 through 28.
Each year Hindus worldwide celebrate January 14th as Makar Samkranti, a change of season and the day the sun enters the sign of Capricorn, or Makar. Makar Samkranti brings in longer days, thus the festivity symbolizes sunshine in life. To mark this occasion this year, from January 13th to the end of Makar Samkranti celebration on January 28th, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh-USA (HSS), a non-profit organization, organized the Surya Namaskar yagnas. This was a innovative campaign to raise health awareness using the ten-step yoga postures known as “Surya Namaskar Yagna,” or “Sun Salutations offerings.” Surya Namaskar is practiced in more than 40 slightly different formats all over the world. These are sets of well-balanced movements that stretch all the muscles in the body combined with constant breathing pattern and keep the body and mind healthy. With close to 4000 participants, Surya Namaskar Yagna achieved close to 450,000 Surya Namaskars across the country.