70,000 Ambassadors for Peace experience the phenomenon Yoga
Active Hatha Yoga, holistic Sivananda Yoga, modern Power Yoga; the list of the various yoga schools is long and the demand is enormous. In Germany, today, 5 million people have already tried yoga and the trend is sharply upward as many more use yoga to improve their physical well-being.
Yoga is no longer only reserved for spiritual scholars, and is not a sport just for gurus and ultra-flexible people. More and more people are convinced of the positive effects of yoga. It has proven positive effects on both physical and on mental health. The physical exercises, called asanas, improve overall posture and counteract back problems, while at the same time having a calming, stress relieving effect. Whether young or old, a healthy body, inner balance and joy of life, is more important than ever in today’s fast-paced, stressful society.
But what school of yoga is right for me? Visitors can find the answer at "The World Culture Festival" on 2 and 3 July at the Olympiastadion. Yoga professionals from around the world will be showcasing diverse global practices. This is the weekend that the largest open-air arena in the capital will turn into the largest yoga park in Europe.
Visitors can try out the sun salutation, locust or shoulder stand, and discover the right yoga school for themselves at this extraordinary community experience in the Yoga Park. Renowned yoga experts will give courses for children, beginners and advanced yogis. In addition, a Yoga Museum will show the historical development of Indo-philosophical doctrine from antiquity to the 21st Century. Various exhibitions will also concentrate on the positive effect of yoga on health and peace in the world. "Inner peace is the basis for a peaceful society," says Ruud Lubbers, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands. "Yoga is a powerful way to relaxation and stress resolution, because only those who are at peace with themselves can project this outward to our environment."
And where so many nationalities come together, there are also possibilities to look beyond the yoga mat and learn about other cultures. Four large pavilions presenting the continents: Africa, America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, invite the visitor on an exotic journey of discovery. Festival guests can visit them, continent by continent, learning to travel here and getting first-hand knowledge of the typical traditions. For example, China's 1,000-hands-dance, the North Indian tabla drum music, Exotic Far Eastern delicacies or poems from Asia, Europe and Latin America.
All countries are invited to actively participate in all pavilion discussions. With the 5th International Women’s Conference, held this year for the first time under the umbrella of the World Culture Festival, the intercultural dialogue will be featured. Thus, all festival visitors can easily and efficiently become peace ambassadors for their countries and promote international understanding: just by their presence. The World Culture Festival is the 30th anniversary of the International Art of Living Foundation a volunteer-based NGO, with special consultative status at the United Nations. Its founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is counted among the five most important people of India, according to the Forbes magazine. He will be present at The World Culture Festival, welcoming the numerous state guests on stage.
What makes this festival so extraordinary, among other things is the theme “Come and participate”. Visitors have the opportunity to actively participate in the event. Many visitors can contribute to the program’s design and each performer is part of the entire peace festival. Anyone who wants can participate, for example, in folk dance, national choir, guitar orchestra and in the great artistic yoga representation, called the sun salutation, and a peace meditation.
About the Art of Living Foundation
The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) was founded in 1981 by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and operates in 151 countries. It is one of the largest independent, humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world. The AOLF holds a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN), and is active in numerous other international bodies and committees in the areas of health, education and sustainable development. The priorities include aid projects in developing countries, trauma and stress management in crisis areas and rehabilitation programs for victims of violence and prison inmates. In addition, yoga and meditation classes are offered.
Tickets for the festival are available now at: www.worldculturefestival.org
Contacts
The World Culture Festival
Press Office
Cirstin Ehlers
Tel: 00 49 302535 83 96
Fax: 00 49 302535 83 97
Mobile: 00 49 151 4310 1428
press@worldculturefestival.org