Yoga Alliance Professionals hosts event to celebrate International Yoga Day

Yoga Alliance Professionals hosted its first-ever charity yoga event to celebrate International Yoga Day on the 21st of June.

The virtual event on International Yoga Day showcased all that yoga has to offer, from Kirtan yoga chanting to meditation and Power yoga. Teachers included body positive and anti-racism activist Donna Noble; the legendary Stewart Gilchrist; and Annie Clarke, the author and creator of Mind Body Bowl. Many other outstanding yoga teachers also led exceptional classes throughout the day. 

From Tokyo to Texas, students around the world took part in the classes to raise £650 for charities selected by the teachers involved. This included ActionAid for India, Campaign Against The Arms Trade and Birmingham Homeless Charity

The virtual event was organised by Yoga Alliance Professionals to celebrate yoga and the positive impact it has had over the past year, as more people turned to online yoga to deal with rising levels of stress and depression during the various lockdowns. 

Yoga Alliance Professionals' members have worked hard to support their communities throughout this challenging time. The resilience to help their students during the pandemic has been incredibly inspiring to watch. 

Melissa Albarran, the spokesperson for Yoga Alliance Professionals, said “We are really pleased with the turnout our first online yoga fundraising event and delighted with the funds raised for a variety of worthy causes. In the past year we have witnessed how yoga has helped to support the mental and physical wellbeing of both the students who practice yoga and the instructors who make a living from teaching something they are passionate about. 

Our members have adapted to a very difficult situation and dedicated themselves to helping their communities online. International Yoga Day seemed to be the perfect opportunity to celebrate their hard work and all that yoga has given us this year and every year.” 

Sonia Doubell, the founder of Sonia Doubell Yoga, taught on the event and said “I've been a member of The Yoga Alliance family since 2004, right at the beginning of my yoga journey and they've always been there for me. Thank-you to Yoga Alliance Professionals for such a beautifully hosted and curated day of yoga inspiration.It was an honour to join in sharing this beloved practice and raise money for charity.”.

This was the very first international event Yoga Alliance Professionals has held to mark the International Day of Yoga, and it was a huge success. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved.