YOGA IN MANHATTAN

'Shiva Shiva Shiva Shiva Sambho, Mahadeva sambho.' This mantra was chanted by more than 500 people from various ethnic groups in Times Square, New York City on the morning of June 21, 2008. The summer solstice was a day of yoga in the heart of Manhattan, one of the largest and busiest cities in America.

I had the opportunity to participate in this event, along with 15 other volunteers from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. We all experienced a distinct way of celebrating the longest day of the year. As tag line of the event stated, 'Anyone can find tranquility on top of a mountain. Can you find it in the middle of Times Square?', it was truly a challenge to find tranquility in the midst of urban energy.

'Though it may seem ironic that we were trying to find inner peace in such a loud, lively place, it felt really great,' said Ruchi Munshi, a youth participant. 'It was really invigorating to be able to do yoga, even in the midst of the city’s traffic and commercial activity.”'

This event was organized by the Times Square Alliance, the group that conducts many Time Square events around the year, including the famous New Year's Eve celebration. Forty one different yoga studios across the city collaborated closely with the solstice group to organize this event. The instructor, Tim Tompkins, an American yoga teacher, was very soothing and persuasive while teaching us almost 20 different yoga postures.

It was very inspiring to see how the ancient Hindu practice of yoga is benefitting the mainstream American society. We all left the event with the message of maintaining inner harmony and composure, even during our hectic everyday lives.

By Piyush Satapathy

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