To commemorate International Yoga Day, a special event was held in Christchurch organised by Indian Cultural Group (ICG) in association with Indian High Commission in New Zealand and Being Yoga.
The event took place on the evening of June 20 at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, and aimed to promote yoga and its benefits for mental health and overall well-being.
It successfully brought together more than 70 enthusiasts and provided an enjoyable yoga experience accompanied by uplifting music.
ICG, which is one of the oldest Indian cultural organisations in Christchurch, has been hosting the yoga day event since its inception in 2015.
ICG President Dr Sandeep Sachdev said, “International Day of Yoga is a great reminder that we are all interconnected, and through yoga, we can cultivate a world of peace, respect, and understanding.”
The session was conducted by Kotte Aguilar of Being Yoga, a proud Chiwi (Chilean-Kiwi) and a yoga teacher for nine years.
Kotte Aguilar(middle) with DJ Deep Stretch(left) and Dr Sandeep Sachdev(right)
A prominent teacher in Christchurch, Aguilar’s yoga journey began in 2014 when a friend introduced her to a yoga class, and she instantly felt a connection.
Over the years, she became a regular practitioner and started teaching to “share with others what this practice had done for me”.
“Yoga has led me to great things, including being invited to be a TEDx youth speaker,” she says.
Reflecting about her involvement with International Yoga Day, Aguilar says, “I’ve been hosting International Yoga Day for about four years with ICG and the high commission, and I feel truly honoured to be given the space considering I am not from India, but that’s never been an issue, and everyone is so supportive.”
Regarding the session, Aguilar says, “We focused on community and surrendering to a new experience; we cultivated space for people to connect and explore yoga in a unique way. The style was vinyasa, and my focus was on warriors but also self-awareness for the audience.”
There was also a DJ who helped relax the attendees and get them into the rhythm with some great music.
“Nate (DJ Deep Stretch) was the one who gave me my first yoga job and has been a supporter since 2014; it was amazing to connect with him after so long and practice yoga with his music.”
Attendees like Jade, who joined the event with a group of friends, shared their enthusiasm. “It was fantastic to practice yoga with a DJ. My friends who thought yoga was serious had great fun and really enjoyed the session. Also, the beautiful venue added to the overall experience,” Jade said.
Sachdev said, “It was heartening to see so many people from different walks of life take time, even on a weekday, who took part with great enthusiasm. I also thank Christchurch
Art Gallery TePuna o Waiwhetü for the most beautiful venue.”
He also thanked volunteers Dr Kishore Mehrotra and Mamta Mehrotra who helped put the event together.
Participants were treated to hot tea and refreshments provided by ICG and Indian High Commission.
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