Press Release
Opening Ceremony - April 8th, 10:00~11:00
The opening ceremony of Patanjali Japan International Day of YOGA 2023 was celebrated at Morishita Culture Centre Japan on Saturday, April 8th, 2023. Grand Finale will be held at Fukagawa Shogakko (Elementary school) on Sunday, June 18th, 2023, from 9:00 to 12:00.
Watch the Full Video here:
The honorable Mr. Kaname Yoshida, the Koto ward assembly member, addressed the keynote speech. He emphasized how if more and more people in the Koto ward started practicing yoga, the community would continue to be healthy. He stated that it would also help the taxpayers as health insurance would be reduced. In addition to that, everyone will be able to live a painless blissful life.
This was followed by an explanation of International Yoga Day and a speech video regarding IDY by the honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi Ji. He explained how a person could lead a stress-free and fulfilling life by practicing regular Yoga.
Then Mr. Ashutosh (Chief Sewa Officer) shared his thoughts about Patanjali Japan Foundation. Patanjali Japan was founded by the name ‘Prakrti’ in 2014 to promote Yoga and Ayurveda. The organization was registered formally on October 5th, 2022, on the auspicious day of Vijayadashami.
The vision has always been ‘A better lifestyle.’ He also shared about regular activities and the events by PJF.
Like free online pranayama sessions every day since 2019, which have been carried out very punctually without any break, arranging monthly interactive sessions for 33 months on various themes related to yoga, diet, Ayurveda, etc., by talented experts, yoga courses, regular classes twice a week to mention amongst others.
He also talked about how PJF aims to improve the daily life of the whole community by inculcating regular yoga activities. He explained that yoga is not just another activity practiced by a rich, lean, beautiful magazine cover lady or a series of complex asanas but is all-inclusive. Anyone can practice it, be it large size, man, woman, physically challenged, kids, athletes, artists, corporates, poor, rich, and so on.
He also emphasized improving teachers’ lifestyles who have chosen yoga as their career path. PJF aims at building a career plan for yoga teachers who otherwise have to keep teaching at a meager income. It works at how they can earn a stable income by evaluating their performance and the value addition they bring with each class.
PJF aims at shifting the lifestyle of the modern world where sleeping time is undefined, working time is undefined, and it continues to affect the personal lives of these individuals. The organization aims to create a stress-free and suicide-free community by merging the ancient yoga tradition and modern science, especially in Japanese society.
Later, all the themes for 75 classes and 20-weekend lectures were explained in detail in Japanese and English by Ms. Yumi and Dhanashree sensei, respectively.
Below are all the categories designed for this year’s IDY.
Yoga for Allergy (Kafunsho), Yoga for Women's Health, Yoga for Husbands' Health, Yoga for Corporate, Yoga for Senior Citizens, Yoga for Kids and Students, Yoga for Stress, Anxiety & Depression, Yoga for Body pain (Backache), Yoga for Body pain (Headache), Yoga for Body pain (Stiff shoulder), Yoga for Common Yoga Protocol.
*Also, the traditional dance performances by brilliant Japanese musicians and artists are not to be missed! (All these artists have chosen Indian instruments and dance forms as their main career path)
This was followed by speeches by Soko sensei (PJF Yoga Teacher), Gautami sensei (Guest teacher),
Voice of Yogis-
Ms. Hoka Junko (Regular Yogi) shared how her life has changed after daily yoga practice. How asana was an answer to her stiff shoulder and meditation to her general mental well-being. And that she also got a compliment from her husband that she has changed from within with the practice of yoga.
Ms. Haruna Kamada (Regular Yogi) shared how she could continue prenatal and post-natal yoga because of regular pranayama sessions.
The ceremony ended with closing remarks and a Mantra chant by Dhanashree sensei.
For online participation, Register Here: https://www.patanjali.jp/event-details/online-ticket-yoga-mahotsav-ii-japan-international-day-of-yoga-2023-celebration
Grand Finale (June 18th (Sunday), 2023): 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Grand Finale of International Day of Yoga 2023 at Koto-Ku Fukugawa Elementary School: Book here separately
Register Here: https://www.patanjali.jp/event-details/international-day-of-yoga-2023-grand-finale-june-18th-2023
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