Rajpura (Patiala), June 21, 2018: Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice, which originated in India and is now practiced across the world. Keeping the practice alive in letter and spirit, SOS Children’s Villages of India (SOS India) celebrated the International Yoga Day in 32 Children’s Villages in the country, spread across 22 states.
On this special day, not only the children but also the SOS Mothers along with SOS co-workers assembled for yoga in the morning in the Project. Most of the children at SOS India practice yoga on regular basis, but on June 21, every year, an external Yoga instructor comes for a special session at each village.
The declaration of International Yoga Day came after the call for adoption of 21st June as International Day of Yoga by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. SOS India also aligns with this in line with the vision of Government of India, “health for all’.
Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Anuja Bansal, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages of India said, “SOS Children’s Villages of India has always strived towards achieving holistic development for its children and mothers.” She congratulated all co-workers for observing the day and added, “SOS India care promises that children have access to holistic development in the Children’s Villages across all our projects where both curricular and co-curricular activities are encouraged. Yoga is also an integral part of this development as it sculpts the mind, develops the brain and gives wings to creativity while encouraging concentration. Thus, it is important to be practised religiously by every child in the country.”
At SOS Children’s Village Rajpura, everybody gathered at the playground and the yoga session started at 6:00 am. The session started with a brief introduction to the significance of the International Yoga Day and the Yoga by the Village Director. The instructor, Mandeep Kaur (Yoga Teacher) addressed the participants and briefed the gathering on few important techniques like creating awareness of the body through deep breathing and various postures. The instructor also shared how series of Aasanas can help one in distressing, calming and soothing oneself. Village Director shared with the children and mothers about the importance of the yoga and appreciated the children on their yogic kriyas.
The yoga session continued with many Aasans and Pranayams. After 1.5 hours of Yoga Session, around 7:30 AM, the session of Yoga Day ended with light refreshment, happy memories and healthy atmosphere.
About SOS Children’s Villages of India
With 54 years of committed care and service provided to parentless and underprivileged children, SOS Children’s Villages of India is one of the largest self-implementing NGOs with pan India presence across 32 projects in 22 states. It provides direct care to over 26,000 children. Established in 1964, SOS India is a non-government, non-profit, voluntary childcare organization. It has since been involved in providing children in distress a ‘home-like’ environment with a loving mother, brothers and sisters, as well as a home and a community. The mission of the SOS Children’s Villages of India is to build families for children without parental care so that they grow up with love, respect & security. It is a well-known credible organization in India and the first childcare NGO to get a CRISIL accreditation for strong delivery capability and high financial proficiency. In March 2016, SOS India was certified by TRACE, world’s leading anti-bribery standard-setting organization, which demonstrates a commitment to commercial transparency. For more information, please visit: http://www.soschildrensvillages.in/