On 8Th October this year the International Day of Yoga took place. This was the day where people of Copenhagen tried different styles of yoga or listened to the yoga schools
presentations of their theoretical and philosophical basis. Moreover, the different projects of
the yoga schools were also presented.

A lot of people showed up to get an insight into the different yoga schools as a way to better choose what best fits them. In one hall the noble and ancient yoga techniques as presented
by the various participating schools was practiced; in another hall the audience received a thorough and descriptive theoretical introduction into the types of yoga and their beneficial
effects.

During the breaks you could get tea, fruit and other refreshments in the lounge or in the vegetarian restaurant Garden of Ambrosia.

For the second consecutive year, Natha Yogacenter was hosting the International Yoga Day in Copenhagen and made ??rooms and volunteers available. The hope is to eventually create an event in which all yoga schools can unite; this year four Copenhagen yoga schools and spiritual organizations showed up to jointly celebrate the International Yoga Day.

Ashtanga Yoga School demonstrated their sweaty, demanding yoga style that raised the pulses and spread a feeling of wellbeing in the bodies of the fresh attendees.

The Hare Krishna movement led people into an enchanting heart trance with their devotional kirtan and deep understanding of Bhakti Yoga Essence.

Ananda Marga demonstrated a harmonious symphony of yoga asanas performed in a traditional form, and the chanting of sacred Sanskrit mantras with deep spiritual content and the presentation of social projects in which the school is involved.

Natha Yogacenter initiated everyone into the Hatha Yoga depth work for the awakening of the 7 psychic centers, the chakras, and a thorough presentation of yogic esoteric knowledge about the connection between the chakras and asanas (yoga postures). A total of 10 yoga workshops and conferences were held as part of this yoga festival.

Yoga Day is not only a cultural initiative but also a spiritual initiative that draws people's attention through the yoga practice to their own being, thus granting them the achievement of a deep understanding of themselves as a healing and harmonizing element for both physical suffering and inner psychic conflicts. Through yogic practice one can really get complete and effortless control of all emotional and mental aspects, and a new self-awareness that transcends the limited everyday mind and bestows a spiritual perspective of unlimited possibilities.

Emanuel Langhoff, yoga and tantra teacher in Natha Yogacenter and co-organizer of Yoga Day says: "Another important point of Yoga Day is, besides being a free offer to the people of Copenhagen, to create a solidarity and friendship without obligations between the country's yoga schools. Therefore, the slogan this year was "union in diversity of all the world yogis". When we meet we can inspire each other and avoid a dogmatic and sectarian attitude towards "the others". It is wonderful to see an increasing number of yoga schools participating in Yoga Day and I'm sure that next year’s International Yoga Day 2012 will feature most of Copenhagen's yoga schools."

Yoga Day was also celebrated in other places throughout the world. In cities such as Prague, Berlin, London and even our neighboring city of Malmö, the doors were opened up for curious people. In many other cities there were yoga demonstrations on streets and in squares.

At the end of the event in Copenhagen, a panel discussion among the yoga schools was held, where representatives from the participating yoga schools could exchange opinions and experiences. Within the discussion it quickly appeared the fact that despite the differences in the yoga practices of the involved schools, there was a wide consensus in the yogic overall objective of the need for health, harmony and spiritual insight. Simultaneously, all schools agreed that Yoga should be socially engaging and act as a beneficial impulse to support both the individual and society.

"There was a really good atmosphere this year, and friendships arose crisscrossing the schools," said moderator of the debate and co-organizer of International Yoga Day, Sahaj Porslund.

So remember to make room in your calendar on 8th October for next year's International Yoga Day and get a free taste of one or more of Copenhagen’s yoga schools.

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