International Yoga Day on June 21

International Yoga Day is a yearly day set aside to celebrate yoga, held on June 21. You may also see it called the International Day of Yoga or World Yoga Day. On or around that date, studios, community groups and public spaces around the world hold group classes, many of them free and open to beginners.

This page is updated each year as new details are announced.

What is International Yoga Day?

It is an observance recognised by the United Nations, one of many international days the UN marks to draw attention to a theme. The idea is simple: encourage people everywhere to try yoga, or to practise together, on the same day.

Each year the Indian government announces a theme for the day, and many events around the world take it up. The practice offered is usually gentle and accessible, because the day is meant to include people who have never done yoga before.

How did the United Nations declare it in 2014?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea in a speech to the UN General Assembly in September 2014. In December 2014 the General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring June 21 the International Day of Yoga, with a large number of member states co-sponsoring it.

The first International Yoga Day was held on June 21, 2015, and it has been marked every year since. For the longer story of where yoga comes from, see the history of yoga.

Why June 21?

June 21 falls on or close to the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the day with the most daylight. The proposal pointed to the solstice as a date that carries meaning in many cultures. In the Philippines, close to the equator, the change in day length is small, but the date is the same everywhere.

How is International Yoga Day usually marked in the Philippines?

The exact events change from year to year, so check close to the date. In general terms, the day tends to be celebrated in a few familiar ways:

• Public sessions. Large group classes in parks, malls, open grounds or event halls, often organised or supported by the Embassy of India in Manila together with local partners.
• Studio classes. Many studios run free or donation classes, open houses, or special themed sessions on or near June 21.
• Community and campus events. Schools, universities, local government units and workplaces sometimes hold short sessions for students, staff or residents.
• Practice at home. Plenty of people simply roll out a mat that morning and do a short practice on their own or with family.

Because June falls in the rainy season, outdoor events may move indoors or change at short notice. Follow the organiser’s page for updates.

What happens in a typical Yoga Day session?

Many public events follow a common sequence published for the day: some loosening movements, simple standing, seated and lying poses, breathing practice and a few minutes of quiet sitting. Others run their own class. Either way, expect a slow, beginner-friendly pace.

To get ready, try a few rounds of the Sun Salutation, step by step, and read what yoga is, in plain terms if you are new to the practice. If you are pregnant, injured or managing a health condition, check with your doctor first, and tell the teacher before the session starts.

How can you take part this year?

• Look for announcements from studios near you a few weeks before June 21.
• Check whether public sessions need registration, and arrive early with a mat, water and a towel.
• If you cannot make an event, practise at home for ten or fifteen minutes. That counts too.

For a regular class after the day itself, browse yoga studios across the Philippines, or start with yoga for beginners.