MEDIA RELEASE (15 September 2014)
Yogathon 2014
Yogathon is an annual event that starts on second Saturday of September and lasts for 14 days
Yogathon – Health for humanity event returned to New Zealand cities and towns on Saturday, September 13 and will
continue until Sunday, September 27, 2014. Opening ceremonies took place at various centres in Whangarei, Auckland,
Palmestern North and Wellington. People from all walks of life and different age groups are once again have started
participating and all who are keen are welcomed to join the two-week event. The event is free and open to people of all
ages and abilities.
Yogathon New Zealand, a division of Hindu Council of New Zealand, has been organising the nationwide ‘Health for
Humanity’ Yogathon since last four years, with the aim to increase awareness about the science of yoga, and its
techniques in facilitating a healthy body, mind, and spirit in balance with each other.
The participants aim to collectively perform 108,000 repetitions of ‘Surya Namaskar’ (Sun Salutation) over a period of
15 days. A repetition of Surya Namaskar consists of a series of yoga postures of well-balanced movements linked with
simple breathing techniques. If you are a first time practitioner, trained instructors will be available at specific
locations to help you get initiated in Yoga through Surya Namaskars.
Yogathon will help promote yoga widely in a scientific perspective of health, to help introduce it as a part of school
curriculum, encourage healthy living, and connect yoga schools and practitioners in New Zealand through participation in
this planned annual event.
Participants can conduct Surya Namaskar repetitions from the comfort of their homes or as part of the regular group they
practice with; in addition venues will be available in some cities where they can join in group practice with trainers.
Those willing to volunteer and help promote and coordinate this event in their respective cities/ schools/
neighbourhoods and be part of the Yogathon team are heartily welcome.
To register interest as participant/ volunteer/ both, please register by emailing yogathon.nz@gmail.com or contact the
Yogathon team:
National coordinator: Mr Mohinder Anand – 022 692 6124
Wellington Ms Kiran Thakrar 021 164 0832