Free outdoor yoga on International Day of Yoga

The free outdoor event, on the grass of the Maurie Ryan Oval at the University’s Lismore campus, is in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at the Consulate General of India.

International Day of Yoga, marked globally each year on June 21, aims to celebrate and bring awareness to the many benefits of practising yoga, the physical, mental and spiritual practice which originated in India.

Yoga is widely researched and has been found to be a useful and cost-effective therapy for a wide range of mental and physical conditions. 

Professor Romy Lauche, Deputy Director of Research at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine and one of the top-ranked yoga research experts in the world, said yoga was a positive practice for both the mind and the body.   

“It is great to be offering the benefits of yoga to our community. Lismore and the Northern Rivers are still recovering from the floods, and yoga is a positive way to reduce stress, and see a number of additional health benefits," Professor Lauche said.

“We hope as many people as possible join us to take some time out for themselves to practise yoga and enjoy a connecting with others.” 

Professor Jon Wardle, Foundation Director of the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, said the event was part of the Centre's wider community focus.

“The Centre is always finding ways to work with the community to assist in promoting health and wellbeing, including ways to help recovery from the 2022 floods,” said Professor Wardle.

“One way we are doing this is through a dedicated free yoga for community health and harmony program that delivers an hour-long yoga class to the community each week, at no cost, which many attendees indicate has helped them in their post-flood healing journey.

“For the International Day of Yoga event, we are providing a nutritious and warming lunch from Masala Fusion Indian Restaurant which is both importantly aligned to the principles of yoga food, but also acknowledges Sonny’s work in assisting the community with food during the floods."

Event details for International Day of Yoga

• FREE event: yoga class, yoga mat, nourishing lunch, herbal teas
• Register at https://bit.ly/yogaday-2023
• Wednesday 21 June 2023:
  • Yoga class: 12pm - 12.30pm
  • Lunch: from 12.30pm
• Location: Maurie Ryan Oval (next to SCU Fitness Centre & Pool). Plenty of onsite parking at the University's Lismore campus, off Military Road.