In the early hours of this morning, in celebration of International Day of Yoga 2016, India Tourism and The High Commission of India invited yoga enthusiasts to take part in a series of sunrise yoga sessions on the 69th and 72nd floors of The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building.

With views stretching across Britain’s capital, adults and children participated in a range of yoga classes led by some of the UK’s most influential instructors.

The free yoga classes, organised in collaboration with organisations such as British Wheel of Yoga, Patanjali Yog Peeth Trust, The Art of living Foundation, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Brahma Kumaris, Isha Foundation, Heartfulness, Coolherbals, Chi Kri, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK, Hindu Sevika Samiti UK, The World Yoga Festival, Special Yoga Foundation, Jump Party, and SKY Trust UK, were followed by an official ceremony by The High Commission of India.

During the official ceremony, the Indian high commissioner, Navtej Sarna, thanked all who attended the event.

He added: “We are delighted to see so many of you here this morning, on International Day of Yoga 2016, to celebrate with us the invaluable gift of yoga.

“Millions of people across the globe benefit from the practice of yoga, which brings harmony between mind, body and soul.”
Plans for an annual International Day of Yoga began in 2014, following an initiative by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi calling for yoga to be internationally recognised.

This is the second year of International Day of Yoga celebrations in the UK, following 2015 when numerous events took place across the country, as well as in 177 other countries.

This year in the UK, International Day of Yoga will be celebrated by more than 20 yoga and cultural institutions across the country.