BEIJING, June 11: Yoga has evolved into a global practice transcending boundaries, contributing to healthier lifestyles, former President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff said at an event in Shanghai on Thursday.
 A yoga practitioner herself, Rousseff, currently the President of the Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries, attended a curtain-raiser event for the International Day of Yoga at the NDB headquarters organised by the Indian Consulate in Shanghai. Â
International Day of Yoga (IDY) is celebrated around the world on June 21 every year, ever since it was adopted by the United Nations in 2014. Â
Speaking at the event in Shanghai, Rousseff conveyed her best wishes to the people of India on the occasion of the forthcoming International Day of Yoga, a press release from the Indian Consulate said.
She observed that yoga has evolved into a truly global practice that transcends national boundaries and contributes to healthier and more balanced lifestyles.
She also noted the strong popularity of yoga in Shanghai, which hosts one of the largest and most vibrant yoga communities in the world.
Later, interacting with the participants of the yoga event, Rousseff congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister of India and reaffirmed her commitment to further strengthening cooperation between India, Brazil and the New Development Bank in support of the aspirations of the Global South, it said.
Welcoming the participants, Consul General Pratik Mathur highlighted the growing global appeal of yoga as a holistic practice that promotes physical well-being, mental balance, and harmony.
He noted that the event marked the beginning of the ten-day countdown to IDY 2026 and underscored the significance of celebrating yoga at the headquarters of the NDB, an institution that embodies the spirit of cooperation among BRICS countries and the wider Global South, the press release said.
Both Mathur and NDB Vice President Rajeev Ranjan emphasised the enduring relevance of yoga as a force for peace, stability, harmony, and sustainable well-being. (PTI)
