​Photos: ​Week Long Celebrations at SSSIHL​ to mark International Yoga Day ​

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning founded by Bhagawan Baba, by itself has tremendous latent potential, be in the field of Arts, Science, Sports or any Cultural activities including Yoga. Bhagawan Baba during His lifetime speeches, had emphasized upon the need for practicing Yoga, in everyone's life.

No wonder, the Sri Sathya Institute of Higher Learning celebrated the International Yoga Day as a week long celebrations in all its campuses at Prasanthi Nilayam, Bangalore, Muddenahalli and Ladies Campus at Anantapur-which is covered in detail by our University Correspondent.

The Senior Faculty members of SSSIHL at Prasanthi Nilayam have been the torch bearers of the Yoga study and the week ending celebrations, at Prasanthi Nilayam on 21 06 2016 has been exclusively covered by Sri Narayana Reddy, the Yoga Teacher and the Professor of Economics department.

Antarāshtriya Yog Divas, commonly referred to as International Day of Yoga, is celebrated annually on June 21 since its inception in 2015. An international day for yoga was unanimously declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 11, 2014. The Indian Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi—largely credited for the initiative—in his UN Address suggested the date of June 21, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares special significance in many parts of the world.

Students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) have long followed this ancient tradition as it is part of the Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education, where equal emphasis is given to the development of a student’s intellectual and other faculties – physical, cultural, emotional and spiritual.

On 21 June 2016, all campuses of the university celebrated the International Day of Yoga. Students of the Anantapur Campus, the only women’s campus of the university, had an hour-long yoga session in the camps grounds early in the morning. They were also coached by teachers and the the physical director on the benefits of daily yoga practice and the significance of key mudras.

The men’s campuses at Prasanthi Nilayam, Brindavan and Muddenahalli also had various sessions on yoga at their respective campuses. Prasanthi Nilayam campus had a series of loosening exercises followed by standing, sitting, prone and supine postures. They practised key pranayamas such as Kapalabhati, Bastrika and Bhramari. They also had experts demonstrate a few asanas to students. In addition, the campus organised talks and meditations by experts in the week leading to the International Day of Yoga.

The Brindavan Campus celebrated the event in four phases: a yoga performance by the teachers and students on the campus grounds, an expert-led a lecture-cum-demo, an essay contest on yoga and its effect on the body and mind, and a display of yoga posters prepared by a set of students.

Muddenahalli Campus, the youngest campus at SSSIHL, had a lecture demonstration focusing on surya namaskar (sun salutation), perhaps the most well-known of all yoga asanas. The demonstration, which began early in the morning, gave an overview and broad perspective of yoga, explaining that yoga is not just asanas, but that it includes a broader remit of overall health and taking care of the physical and mental body.

2. Week ending celebrations of International Yoga Day at SSSIHL, Prasanthi Nilayam

At 6 AM in the morning Institute of Higher Learning has conducted International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2016. Students of Undergraduate and Post graduate from the University, Music college, Sri Sathya Sai School of Higher Learning and Smt Eswaramma English Medium High School participated in performing Yoga Asanas and Pranayama, as mentioned in the common yoga protocol published by UGC / Govt of India.

Around 850 students gathered together in the Indoor stadium and performed the yogic practices in unison, which included opening Prayer of Veda, Surya Namaskara, Yogasanas and Pranayama.

We also had a Senior Professor Sri Kumara Bhaskar, a Yoga practitioner as Chief Guest and he spoke about Patanjali Yoga Sutra and Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s interaction with him on various Yoga topics. He inspired all the students to take up Yoga and continue as it benefits them immensely.

Students who participated in various Yoga related competitions were given prizes and Yoga books. There were 5 Yoga related competitions at 2 levels Jr and Sr and in total 27 prizes were given. Along with prize winners 6 Yoga instructors were also felicitated on this occasion.
The head of the Prashanti Nilayam Campus Director Sri Radha Krishna Nair, Controller of Examinations Prof. Sanjay Sahani, Dean of Physics Dept Sri Siva Sankara Sai and other senior staff attended the function.

Week long International Day of Yoga Celebrations:

On the eve of International Day of Yoga Celebrations, the following events were conducted from the June 13th to June 21st. 2016, everyday.

6.00 AM to 7.00 AM –Yoga for all students of the University UG, PG, Music College and School @ College Hostel
7.00 AM to 8.00 AM – Yoga for Staff @ Indoor Stadium
8.15 AM to 8.45 AM – Video presentations on Yoga @ University Auditorium
5.00 PM to 6.00 PM - Advanced Yoga Therapy for Staff @ Indoor Stadium
6.40 PM to 7.10 PM - Advanced Yoga for Students @ College Hostel
Apart from the from the above events, we conducted the following special events for all the students and Staff
· Aum Meditation on 15 June 2016 by Sri Rajesh HK, Professor Swamy Vivekanada Yoga Anusandhana Samsthan

· Talk by Prof. Ales Hanky, Phd ( MIT), Distinguished professor SVYASA ,. He addressed students and inspired them.