International Day of Yoga at HCCC: Yoga for One Earth, One Health

On June 21, 2025, the Hindu Community and Cultural Center (HCCC) in Livermore, CA celebrated International Day of Yoga by hosting their annual free Yoga and Pranayama session in the Lakireddy Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Up to 80 participants of all ages joined the event, which was organized by the Human Services department to “unite breath, body, and being for balance, wellness, and inner light.” A group of yoga instructors volunteered to lead the sessions. Student volunteers offered logistical assistance, by checking in all participants at the registration table.

The morning kicked off with a collective mantra chanting and intention setting. The instructors led an OM chant and prayer session to help clear the mind and promote relaxation in preparation for the upcoming gentle-style yoga.

OM Chants & Prayer Session

The yoga instructor guided participants into various basic poses like child’s pose, bridge pose, and mountain pose, while emphasizing slow and controlled movements and mindful breathing. The combination of gentle yoga and mindful breathing provides countless physical and mental health benefits including reduced stress and depression and improved focus and emotional regulation. It also boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and increases energy levels and lung capacity.

After yoga, participants transitioned into the Pranayama session, which entails controlled breathing exercises. They sat in easy pose, cross legged with palms facing up on their knees, and participated in a series of breathing techniques to help connect the mind and the body. This type of exercise, practiced in collaboration with yoga, offers enhanced benefits to overall health and wellness.

Following Pranayama, an instructor guided participants through a gratitude meditation to promote mindfulness of their blessings, focusing on the positives in life, including good people around them and beneficial experiences they have had. This active form of meditation increases happiness, resilience, and emotional regulation, while decreasing stress and anxiety.

Gaurav Rastogi, a Dhyana meditation and yoga teacher, came onto the stage to close out the session with a talk about the essence, power, and purpose of yoga. He stressed that yoga is meant to join the lower self (negative qualities) with the higher self (positive qualities) and connect the participant with the society. He explained that one does yoga to find inner balance and emulate a sense of well-being. This inner balance allows others to feel the presence, warmth, and light that shines from within the practitioner’s heart, enabling them to share the gift of wisdom, joy, and energy.

The program concluded with a prayer for well-being. Afterwards, the participants enjoyed light and sattvic (balanced) refreshments, including a vegetarian rice dish, biscuits, tea, coffee, and fruits.

As one of the student volunteers, I witnessed the participants stroll out of the auditorium with peaceful smiles on their faces, already looking forward to HCCC’s next Yoga and Pranayama session.

Human Services organizers and student volunteers