Participants reach for the sky as they perform one of the poses.
KUCHING: Around 200 yoga enthusiasts greeted Sunday morning with the third Kuching Yogathon Challenge, held in conjunction with the first International Day of Yoga 2015.
Those who were new to yoga learned the sun salutation (Surya Namasakar) and had plenty of opportunity to perfect their pose as the challenge was to complete 54 sets of it.
The Surya Namasakar consists of 12 poses, and was led by a team of instructors who demonstrated the pose from every angle.
The event, which promotes healthy living, was organised by The Art of Living, Kuching Branch and took place at the Indian Association of Kuching (IAK) hall. All participants who completed the challenge were given certificates.
The proceeds totalling RM1,334 raised from the event was donated to the Kuching Autistic Association.
Yoga is said to improve posture and flexibility, blood circulation, the endocrine system (helps in the balance of hormones) and rejuvenate the body.
It is also known to help calm minds and improve sleep quality.
Last year, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.
The Art of Living Foundation, founded in 1982 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is one of the world’s largest humanitarian organisations. An international humanitarian and education non-government organisation (NGO), it initiates numerous social projects in more than 150 countries.
It is committed to creating peace from the level of the individual and fostering human values within the global community.