Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh concludes successful Suryanamaskar Yagna
30 States, 106 places
4364 participants & 477,169 Surya Namaskars
Oklahoma State Proclamation , Photos
During the last two weeks, through the country from the San Francisco Bay area to Boston to Houston, mainstream Americans joined with Hindu-Americans in learning about and performing the yoga postures of “Surya Namaskar”, or “Sun Salutations.
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 Hindu-Americans in learning about and performing the yoga postures of “Surya Namaskar”, or “Sun Salutations. The physical, mental and spiritual heath 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 13 through 28. Local print media and local affiliates of ABC and NBC covered this innovative national project.
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. It brought together individuals and families, both Indian-American and others, many of whom had not regularly practiced yoga, at their weekly events all across the United States during the weekends. A number of the participants also practiced at home during weekdays.
This was an 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 4364 participants, Surya Namaskar Yagna achieved 477,169 Surya Namaskars. In New York, 73 participants performed Surya Namaskar Marathon and completed 5500+ Surya Namaskars in a 24-hour period. In Houston, 117 volunteers performed a 10-hour Surya Namaskar Marathon and completed 7327 Surya Namaskars. Bay area in California organized a wave of Surya Namaskars called as “”Surya Namaskar Lahar” in seven centers. 300 participants completed 20,000 Surya Namaskars in this 24 hour Surya Namaskar relay marathon.
One of the participants, eleven-year-old Ayush Sharma, said, “I never imagined I could do 234 Surya Namaskars in less than four hours”. In New Jersey, 80 volunteers performed 6100 Surya Namaskars in a competition in 45 minutes. In Texas a family of four started performing 52 Surya Namaskars each with a goal to perform 3200 during the yagna. In an Indianapolis temple more than 200 attended a Surya Namaskar presentation and later participated actively in the yagna. In Georgia and in Florida, 300 individuals, in Massachusetts 500+, and in California 700+ persons have started practicing Surya Namaskars daily.
Participants in the yagna have expressed their experiences and plans for continuing the practice. Some like Dr Lata Stead of Rochester, Minnesota, were interviewed on local TV. She stated, “Once we started, my kids and I were hooked. Before I started this I really didn’t think ten minutes of yoga was going to do anything because I already exercised a lot, but I’ve been very surprised by the results, Also, one of the things it teaches is patience and that’s a good thing with four kids!”
Nishank Trivedi says “everyone is so busy. We kind of neglect our physical health; so with Surya Namaskar, or sun salutations, all you have to do is take out ten minutes and do these postures and it gives you a full body exercise”.
“Prior to Surya Namaskar Yagna, I used to do exercise on treadmill. But now, 20 Surya Namaskars follow my treadmill exercise. Never in past I felt as good as I feel now. I experience renewed energy and flexibility in all of my body joints”, said Anita Rathore from Medway, Massachusetts.
Joel Brown from Florida said, “I think the Surya Namaskar Yagna is a great program that allows family and friends to come together and better themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s a unique program because even after the event is over…doing Surya Namaskars on a daily basis continues”.
Vijay Pallod from Houston, Texas mentioned that after an accident two years ago, he was not able to do Surya Namaskar. But he tried again at the start of the yagna with his family. He continued this practice even with his travel to India and Kuwait during this period. He and his family will be continuing to practice daily.
Perhaps the oldest participant was 70-year-old Mallikarjun Shintri, CPA and yoga instructor, who did 195 in the Houston one-day marathon. Among the youngest was four-year old Pratham Rathi, also from Houston, who did over 200 during the period and plans to continue daily .
At the end of this project, many participants said that if they did not do Surya Namaskar any day for some reason (busy at work, busy at home or due to sickness), they felt incomplete and not good that day.
When asked about the successful completion of Surya Namaskar Yagna, National Project Coordinator, Dr. Siddhesh Shevade said, “Our biggest achievement for this project was to make individuals understand the easy cardio-respiratory training to the body that one can regularly perform in minimum time and space and with no equipment. Surya Namaskar Yagna, as a project, has concluded for this year, but we are sure that many individuals who developed this habit in the past couple weeks will make this individual sun salutation offering life-long.”
For all the details about the Surya Namaskar Yagna 2007 (SNY 07) including Resources, News articles, Photos and News Videos; please visit www.hssus.org/sny
HSS Announces 18th Annual “Health for Humanity” Yogathon
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.
Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.
Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.
Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.
About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.
HSS Announces 18th Annual “Health for Humanity” Yogathon
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Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.
Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.
Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.
Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.
About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org
HSS Announces 17th Annual “Health for Humanity” Yogathon
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 13th to January 28th, 2024. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.
Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.
Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.
Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.
About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.
HSS Announces sixteenth Annual Health for Humanity Yogathon
ROCKAWAY, NJ, USA, January 6, 2023 — Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) announces the sixteenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY) event. This event will begin on January 14, 2023, and end on January 29, 2023. It is a nationwide event where participants across genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths enthusiastically join, thus making it a truly nationwide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) event.
Surya Namaskar is typically done to honor the Sun, and it is believed to have a number of physical and mental benefits. Suryanamaskar Yajna is a type of Yogathon involving the practice of Surya Namaskar, a series of 10 physical postures traditionally performed in sequence as a form of yoga. The practice of Surya Namaskar involves moving through a series of poses that flow together in a graceful, continuous sequence.
Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively taken part in Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges. Regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, enthusiasts have participated and collectively performed over four million Surya Namaskars.
Acknowledging this community-wide health awareness program, community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. Health for Humanity Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It was recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the community benefits of this initiative, the Let’s Move initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.
HSS Announces 15th Annual Health for Humanity Yogathon
ROCKAWAY, NJ. January 12, 2022 – Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) announces the fifteenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This 16-day event will begin on January 15, 2022, and end on January 30, 2022.
The sun is the source of energy for all life on earth. Surya Namaskar is a combination of yoga postures, called “āsanā(s),” performed in a pre-determined sequence in appreciation of this precious solar energy. Surya Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in ten steps that, along with easy breathing techniques, can provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind.
Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively taken part in Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges. Regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, enthusiasts have participated and collectively performed over four million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. Health for Humanity Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It was recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the community benefits of this initiative, the Let’s Move initiative of the then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.
This program is open to all people. For questions or suggestions, please email [email protected].
Details of this event, training resources, and advertising aids to make this project successful are available on the official HSS SNY website: www.hssus.org/sny.
