15 photos that show how yoga has spread all over the world

By Courtney Verrill From Business Insider

International Yoga DaySouth Korea.Ahn Young-joon/AP Images

From India, to China, to Canada, yoga enthusiasts around the world are celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21. Practicing yoga has been shown to have significant health benefits, such as helping to maintain a balanced metabolism, relieve stress, and improve cardio and circulatory health.

Yoga’s origins date back to more than 10,000 years ago, but in recent years it has become such a popular fad that it has slowly spread all over the world. In both 2014 and 2015, yoga was named one of the top 10 growing fitness trends in a survey conducted for the American College of Sports Medicine.

International Yoga Day is celebrated annually on June 21. Below, see how people around the world are celebrating.
View As: One Page Slides

Yoga originated in Rishikesh, India more than 10,000 years ago.

#Cricketing kids squad celebrating #InternationalYogaDay at the Roshanara Club. Amalgamation of #mind #body and #soul #community #instamood #instacool #yoga #yogaeverywhere #yogaday #instadaily #instasize #India #Delhi #YogaWithPrarthana #happiness #mayibeginyoga2016 #myyogalife #cricket #Indian #kids #sport #yogafam #fit #fitness #idy2016

A photo posted by Yoga With Prarthana (@yogawithprarthana) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:04am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:04am PDT

India.
In 1920, the practice of yoga was introduced to the western world by influential guru Paramahansa Yogananda, who founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, California.

This one time, I practiced with 2000 yogis . #InternationalYogaDay // #RedRocks

A photo posted by Jessica Missun (@jessica.missun) on Jun 21, 2016 at 11:21am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 11:21am PDT

Morrison, Colorado.

Source: Huffington Post
Practicers claim that it helps people heal mentally, physically, and emotionally.

I’m not sure what’s going on here but it looks like … something. from @boldanditalic — Today’s office. #lolewhite #internationalyogaday #socialmediamanagerlife @lolehalifax

A photo posted by halifaxnoise.com (@halifaxnoise) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:49am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:49am PDT

Halifax, Canada.

Source: Huffington Post
There have been four main periods in yoga’s rich history: pre-classical, classical, post-classical, and modern.

#InternationalYogaDay @cregansollers

A photo posted by Carrie Fehr (@carriefehr) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:02am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:02am PDT

Costa Rica.

Source: Yoga Basics
A 2016 study found that over 34 million people practice yoga in the United States alone.

Happy #InternationalYogaDay! We love seeing our residents practicing all over their communities and in onsite yoga classes many of our apartment communities put on. (: @nyamaste at @liveapex) #AllianceLiving #Yoga

A photo posted by Alliance Residential (@allianceliving) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:58am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:58am PDT

Los Angeles, California.

Source: PR Newswire
In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 the International Day of Yoga, just a few months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the suggestion.

Happy World Yoga Day everyone! Just had a great #WorldYogaDay session at @turangga.sc. Here is me and #turanggahorsemen doing what we do best. #internationalyogaday #yoga #turanggasc

A photo posted by Samuel Hoesny (@shoesny) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:03am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:03am PDT

Surabaya, Indonesia.
Modi apparently chose June 21 because “the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.”

Tree Asana/Vriksasana amongst the Tree’s Happy International Yoga Day ॐ #internationalyogaday #yoga #nature #treeasana #vriksasana #backpackingindia #instatravel

A photo posted by L i s s y W h i t e ☮ ૐ (@awonderfulworldofawanderer) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:02am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:02am PDT

Old Manali, India.

Source: International Day of Yoga
There are six fundamental types of postures: standing poses, forward bends, back bends, twists, balances, and inversions.

#International #YogaDay ——————————————————- #Yoga #India #InternationalYogaDay #meditation #wellness #health #fitness #fit #happy #zen ⚡️ #Insta #instacool #gray #Marketing #robot #Tech #santamonica #Technology #Startups #influencer #instaquote #motivate #LA ——————————————————- #Follow #Digital90210.com #WeAreThunderbolt ⚡️

A photo posted by @thunderbo.lt on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:59am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:59am PDT

Los Angeles, California.
All together, there are thousands of poses.

We’ve seen so many powerful poses at #SolsticeTSq today. We still have two more classes to go so stop by check in at 43rd St. & Broadway to participate in our celebration of the #summersolstice! : Amy Hart for Times Square Alliance #yoga #yogi #firstdayofsummer #yogaeverywhere

A photo posted by Times Square NYC (@timessquarenyc) on Jun 20, 2016 at 12:54pm PDT on Jun 20, 2016 at 12:54pm PDT

New York, New York.
There are more than 100 different forms of yoga.

#internationalyogaday & #Thor on the mound? My kind of day. Don’t forget to buy your tickets for #MetsYogaDay on 8/27/16 – yoga in the outfield + @mets #yoga mat! Mets.com/yoga #namaste #nyc #citifield #lgm #metsyogaclub #⚾️

A photo posted by S t e p h ⚾ A r m i j o (@stepharmijo) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:00am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:00am PDT

New York, New York. Source: WebMD
Yoga helps expand the lungs and is very beneficial for your heart, which helps increase lifespan.

Teaching @rachelleboudry a thing or two about yoga. • • • #yogafail #columbiaicefields #parkerridge #parkerridgetrail #banff #icefieldsparkway #internationalyogaday #yoga #headstand #protip #travelalberta #explorealberta #canadianrockies #travel #traveltuesday #adventure #hiking

A photo posted by Ryan Welling (@wellingryan) on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:00am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 9:00am PDT

Parker Ridge Trail, Canada.

Source: American Heart Association
The relaxing sensation is said to help people with high blood pressure.

Happy International yoga day yogis! Yoga partner @volpina_ale #internationalyogaday #yogaeverydamnday #yogini #fitgirl #yoga #acro #acroyoga

A photo posted by Tay (@tay_republic) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:59am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:59am PDT

Rome, Italy.
A 2014 study found that practicing yoga can help with inflammation that is associated with chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

Throwing it back for international yoga day with my yogis ✌ #yogateachertraining #thailand #oneyearago #sammakaruna #treepose #virksasana #internationalyogaday

A photo posted by Stephanie Connolly (@steph.connolly) on Jun 21, 2016 at 11:06am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 11:06am PDT

Koh Phangan, Thailand.

Source: National Geographic
Yoga has also been proven to help with memory loss in people 55 and older.

Courtesyof @max13kd INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY!! 21 JUNE!! “the one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing” – james brown #sunrise #yoga #natarajasana #arugambay #southasia #paradise #surftrip #instatraveling #travelgram #internationalyogaday #yoga #yogalife #yogaeveryday

A photo posted by ArugamBay (@arugam_bay) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:54am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:54am PDT

Arugambay, Sri Lanka.

Source: The New York Times
In many cultures, especially Indian culture, it is believed that yoga goes far beyond posing on the mat and is instead a way of life.

Seviyorum sevmiyorum Kaç çakra var bilmiyorum Ben yogi olamam ama Kendimi toparlıyorum Dünya Yoga Günü’nüz kutlu olsun #internationalyogaday #nilkaraibrahimgil #seviyorumsevmiyorum #yoga #meditation #relax #bepossitive #goodhappens #tranquini #tranquinipositivelyrelaxed

A photo posted by Görkem Yılmaz (@gr.yilmaz) on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:50am PDT on Jun 21, 2016 at 8:50am PDT

Turkey.

Source: Huffington Post

For more on this story go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/yoga-has-taken-over-the-world-2016-6/#yoga-originated-in-rishikesh-india-more-than-10000-years-ago-1