ROCKAWAY, NJ, USA, January 6, 2023 — Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) announces the sixteenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY) event. This event will begin on January 14, 2023, and end on January 29, 2023. It is a nationwide event where participants across genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths enthusiastically join, thus making it a truly nationwide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) event.

Surya Namaskar is typically done to honor the Sun, and it is believed to have a number of physical and mental benefits. Suryanamaskar Yajna is a type of Yogathon involving the practice of Surya Namaskar, a series of 10 physical postures traditionally performed in sequence as a form of yoga. The practice of Surya Namaskar involves moving through a series of poses that flow together in a graceful, continuous sequence.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively taken part in Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges. Regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, enthusiasts have participated and collectively performed over four million Surya Namaskars.

Acknowledging this community-wide health awareness program, community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. Health for Humanity Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It was recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the community benefits of this initiative, the Let’s Move initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.

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The sun is the source of energy for all life on earth. Surya Namaskar is a combination of yoga postures, called “āsanā(s),” performed in a pre-determined sequence in appreciation of this precious solar energy.   Surya Namaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in ten steps that, along with easy breathing techniques, can provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively taken part in Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges. Regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, enthusiasts have participated and collectively performed over four million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. Health for Humanity Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators.   It was recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the community benefits of this initiative, the Let’s Move initiative of the then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.

This program is open to all people. For questions or suggestions, please email sny@hssus.org.

Details of this event, training resources, and advertising aids to make this project successful are available on the official HSS SNY website: www.hssus.org/sny.

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The Illinois House of Representatives commended HSS in a State House resolution to recognize these efforts. While recognizing HSS for its year-round activities and social work in their neighborhoods, this resolution explicitly acknowledged over 52,000 repeated Surya Namaskar Yoga by 4000 individuals in the State. It further commended HSS for promoting all community members’ spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.

Nationally, this year, over 12,600 enthusiasts actively performed daily Surya Namaskar sets for the duration of this project. Over  3,000 students and teachers from various schools participated in this activity. Total 728,795 Surya Namaskars were collectively performed. Many participants acknowledged its benefits in attaining physical and emotional balance and committed to continuing this activity regularly. Additionally, 161 Yoga teachers attended special local events where they were felicitated for their work in the local communities. 129 elected officials, including several US senators, Governors, State representatives, and Mayors, issued proclamations to recognize this initiative and encouraged their constituents to participate in this valuable health awareness program.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated. This includes individuals, families, Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges.  Regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, enthusiasts have experienced and collectively performed over four million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. Health for Humanity Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators.   It was recognized as a part of Congressional records in 2017. Acknowledging the community benefits of this initiative, the Let’s Move initiative of the then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012.

“Surya Namaskar Yajna has always been an inspiring and satisfying event. This year was more challenging due to the sudden surge in COVID cases, which led to several uncertainties,” said national project coordinator Mr. Srinidhi Sreepad. “But our team of dedicated volunteers made some quick changes, and we could successfully conduct this flagship program of HSS. We got an amazing response from the community, and it made all our efforts worthwhile,” he added.

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Over 12,600 enthusiasts actively performed daily Surya Namaskar sets for the duration of this project. This year over 3,000 students and teachers from various schools participated in this activity. Total 728,795 Surya Namaskars were collectively performed. Many participants acknowledged its benefits in attaining physical and emotional balance and committed to continuing this activity regularly. Additionally, 161 Yoga teachers attended special local events where they were felicitated for their work in the local communities.

129 elected officials, including several US senators, Governors, State representatives, and Mayors, issued proclamations to recognize this initiative and encouraged their constituents to participate in this valuable health awareness program.

“HSS has inspired its members and individuals across the country, as well as globally, to participate in its national Yoga-focused Health for Humanity initiative known as Surya Namaskar Yajna,” said New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy, while appreciating HSS efforts of Health for Humanity despite challenges of the pandemic.

“I enjoyed watching a session and learning about the benefits of incorporating yoga into my daily routine,” said Senator Adriane Johnson, Illinois State Senator, serving the 30th District.

“Surya Namaskar Yajna has always been an inspiring and satisfying event. This year was more challenging due to the sudden surge in COVID cases, which led to several uncertainties,” said national project coordinator Mr. Srinidhi Sreepad. “But our team of dedicated volunteers made some quick changes, and we could successfully conduct this flagship program of HSS. We got an amazing response from the community, and it made all our efforts worthwhile,” he added.

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HSS Volunteers Make Unprecedented Impact during Crisis

COVID-19 crisis has affected the entire humanity, and economies around the globe have come to a grinding halt. Situation in the USA is grim too, with a large number of population getting impacted, and the entire health system needing to rapidly gear up to manage the health crisis. 

No sooner than the crisis unfolded, there were reports on shortage of masks for first responders started getting reported, people were losing their livelihood, foreign students started feeling financial hardship and mental stress. 

Volunteers of HSS felt they could help and a national plan was developed. More than 2,000 of them across 27 states formed teams and identified the needs of the communities they live in. 

As the scale of the problem was massive, needed immediate response and geographically distributed, the first thing the volunteers did was onboard other service minded organizations like SEWA International who could help scale the efforts.  Many volunteers across the country stitched masks, raised funds, cooked breakfast and lunch for hospital staff, and provided grocery items to the homes of elder citizens , set up a helpline for University students, roped in experts who donated their time in addressing legal and mental health issues.

HSS raised up to unprecedented levels of selfless service to humanity in the face of an unprecedented health crisis, and made impact far and wide across the cities from shores of New Jersey to the golden coast of California. 

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February 10, 2019

For Immediate Press Release                                                   

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (“HSS”) concluded its Twelfth annual Health for Humanity Yogathon also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna, on January 27, 2019.  Sixty-two elected officials including New York State Senate, State Governors of Arizona, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and 55 mayors from across the US proclaimed and actively supported the Yogathon.

This year HSS focused primarily on reaching out the schools, teachers and students.  Throughout the United States, 101 schools participated in the Yogathon activity.  This included, 13,578 students performing a total of 98,091 Surya Namaskars. At Pocantico Hills School, Tarrytown, NY, Principal, Teachers, and Parents appreciated 10 sessions of Yogathon and invited HSS to train the community members during One World Evening event on January 29^th, 2019.

Additionally, over 9,700 participants performed Surya Namaskars at HSS weekly activity centers called Shakha as well as at various other locations such as libraries, parks, and corporate offices.

Campus Hindu Yuva group at Iowa State University and University of Texas, Dallas attracted campus students to participate in this health awareness activity and to perform several thousands of Surya Namaskars over two weeks of the Marathon.

At HSS Arizona, over 200 people came together for the concluding ceremony of the Yogathon. Participants between the ages of 5 and 75 each did 108 round of Suryanamaskar A similar event was held at San Antonio’s Hindu Temple, where each participant performed 108 Surya Namaskars. A number of places held 6 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours of special Yogathon, where participants continuously performed Surya Namaskars in rotations.

This year, a group of volunteers organized a Facebook community event where 80 members from United States to Australia participated.  Each one accepted a challenge to complete 500 Surya Namaskars in 2 weeks, thus offering a total of 40,000 Surya Namaskars during the Yogathon.

HSS launched the Health for Humanity Yogathon as an annual event in 2007 to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind, and spirit. The Surya Namaskar yoga routine integrates simple postures of well-balanced movements in ten steps with an easy breathing technique to provide immense health benefits for everyone, from beginners to yoga enthusiasts. HSS organizes this event annually during Hindu festival of Makar Samkranti that marks the Sun’s northward movement.

Since its inception, the Yogathon has brought together participants of all faiths and beliefs. Participants from different yoga centers, community organizations, and colleges have collectively performed close to 5 million Surya Namaskars. Additionally, community leaders and elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy life style.

The national coordinator for the Yogathon, Mr. Tushar Sashittal, expressed satisfaction that this year’s school outreach activity has helped in introducing students to Yoga techniques to achieve all-round fitness of body, mind, and spirit and create health awareness. He further hopes that the participants will continue practicing daily.

For More information visit: www.hssus.org or www.facebook.com/hssus

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Please find all the SNY 2019 shakha reports (raw data) at https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yewG1fKEWMn9qYJu_vKuAjFJejWZ6xibmp49mSyx1YI

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The sun is the source of energy for all life on earth. Surya Namaskar is a combination of yoga postures, called “asana(s)”, performed in a pre-determined sequence, in appreciation of this extremely valuable solar energy.  They are a set of well-balanced movements that will stretch and exercise all the muscles in the body, thus keeping the body and mind healthy.   It is practiced all over the world in more than forty different ways. A common practice of performing Surya Namaskar in a set of ten yoga postures provides good exercise to the whole body, calms the mind, and sharpens the intellect.

Each year Hindus worldwide celebrate January 14th as Makar Sankranti – a day that marks a change of season as the sun enters the sign of Capricorn or Makar.  Makar Sankranti ushers in longer days; thus the festivity symbolizes sunshine in life.  Therefore, to mark this occasion, HSS will conduct a collective Surya Namaskar Yagna (SNY) from January 12th to January 27th, 2008. It will be performed by HSS members at their weekly meetings (shakhas/balagokulams), as well as at home on other days. We invite everyone in the United States to perform Surya Namaskar at weekly shakhas and/or at home with a collective goal of one million Surya Namaskar in the sixteen-day span. Last year, over 4,300 people from thirty states participated in this unique marathon, and this year we hope that over 7,000 participants across the country will reap rich benefits from Surya Namaskar.

This program is open to all free of cost – with no age, gender, nationality, ethnicity or religion bars. Details of this event, training resources, and advertising aids to make this project successful are available on the official HSS SNY website: www.hssus.org/sny.  For questions or suggestions, email at sny@hssus.org.

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The fourth annual Health for Humanity Yogathon organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (HSS) commenced on January 16, 2010. Within first five hours on January 16th, 1194 participants performed 39,173 Surya Namaskars at 55 different places all across the United States.

The fourth annual Health for Humanity Yogathon organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (HSS) commenced on January 16, 2010. Within first five hours on January 16^th, 1194 participants performed 39,173 Surya Namaskars at 55 different places all across the United States.

The Health for Humanity Yogathon involves a unique, nationwide effort by HSS to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind, and spirit.  During the two-week Yogathon, from January 16 to 31, HSS will encourage its members and others at its 140 centers across the country to perform one million repetitions of the yoga routine known as the Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar.

The Surya Namaskar yoga routine integrates simple postures of well-balanced movements in ten steps with an easy breathing technique to provide immense health benefits, whether you are a beginner or a yoga enthusiast. HSS invites everyone to learn the Surya Namaskar yoga routine, participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon, and experience the benefits of achieving a healthy body, mind, and spirit through yoga.

Since 2007, the Yogathon has attracted the attention of the yoga community, civic leaders, and even elected officials across the country.  Many have encouraged their fellow citizens to participate for a healthier lifestyle.  Following are the highlights to date, of this year’s Yogathon:

1. Number of Schools are participating and training the students during exercise hour.
2. Honorary Mayor Mr. William McLeod of Hoffman Estates, a suburb of Chicago, IL actively participated in the local SNY workshop.
3. City of Decatur in Georgia declared January 17th as “Yoga Day/Surya Namaskar Day, USA.”
4. Mr. Ramesh Bhutada, CEO of Starpipe Products in Huston, TX has encouraged his employees to participate in this Yogathon. Every day over 20 employees are attending the Surya Namaskar session at the company’s premises. Large number of employees is planning to participate in 24 hours yogathan from Jan 29-Jan 30. He narrated his experience, “Only with Diet and exercise, I have recovered from 11 different ailments in last 12 months, without any medication.”
5. Visiting Chinese professional Guo Wen Jing participated in Yogathon event at George Bush Park, Houston, TX and commented, “The atmosphere of this event was harmonious, I was deeply inspired since it’s my first time to do Surya Namaskar with nice people in a scenic beauty park. It has turned into a wonderful memory of mine.”

If your community organization or yoga school would like more information about participating in the Health for Humanity Yogathon, including training resources and advertising aids to make the project successful, please contact the official HSS SNY website: www.hssus.org/sny.  For questions or suggestions, email “sny(at)hssus(dot)org”

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Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (HSS) concluded its sixth annual “Health for Humanity” Yogathon on January 29th, 2012. During this two-weeks Yogathon, over  13,200 participants energized themselves up with more than one million repetitions of the yoga routine known as the Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar. The Yogathon was held at 230 different places from 39 US states and 5 countries in America, Asia, and Africa.

HSS launched the Yogathon, also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna (SNY), first in 2007, to create awareness about yoga as a perfect physical and mental health keeping system. The current year 2012 was the sixth year since the program was launched. This year, besides HSS volunteers, many health-conscious people across the nation participated in the 16-day event regardless of their race, religion, gender, ideology, ethnicity and age. These participants belonged to more than 107 community groups such as yoga institutes, temples, universities, religious and community groups. Furthermore, children from 19 public schools from California to the heartland of America, not only participated in the program, but also are considering surya-namaskar practice as a regular activity.

“Surya Namaskar integrates simple postures with an easy breathing technique to provide health benefits for everyone from beginners to yoga enthusiasts”, said Dr. Bobby Kapur, Director of the Center for Globalization and Associate Chief for Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, who participated in a Sugar Land, TX event. Dr. Somadatt Mahabir, a renowned scientist in the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, spoke in the Washington, DC about the importance of Surya Namaskar in keeping good health all year round. He said, “Many diseases like diabetes and cancer can be avoided by practicing Surya Namaskar on a regular basis.” He further added that a daily routine of performing Surya Namaskar can be used as a tool to fight the obesity which has become a worldwide epidemic.Roslyn Earle a yoga instructor from the nonprofit Yoga For Peace said “I highly recommend everyone to learn the sequence of Surya Namskar  and discover for themselves the wealth of improved health from a regular practice”. Earle conducted the Sugar Land event with fellow yoga instructors Mallikarjun B Shintri and Daksha Shah. Children who had learned yoga from Shah demonstrated the technique on stage for the participants to follow. “Surya Namaskar can help combat the problem of obesity among school children”, Earle said.

Several Government offices recognized and appreciated HSS’s efforts in spreading awareness of Yoga as a health-restoring system. Mayors of cities like Herndon(VA), Bloomington(IL), Normal(IL), Fremont(CA), Parsippany(NJ), Pearland(TX), San Antanio(TX), Sugar Land(TX), Morrisville(NC), Sunnyvale(CA), Milpitas(CA), Flower Mound(TX), Berkeley(CA), Irvene(CA), White Plains(NY), Springfield(IL), Newark(CA), Austin(TX), Tampa(FL) declared Jan 29th, 2012 as a “Health for Humanity” day and encouraged their constituents to participate in the locally held Yogathons. Famous for his health conscious agenda, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of the City of New York integrated this Yogathon with his “Shape up NYC” program and urged his city employees and residents to participate and receive the health benefits. He was also pleased to have HSS as a partner in his efforts to help New Yorkers to make smart decisions about their bodies. The Governor of the State of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, recognized HSS efforts in preserving ancient Hindu heritage and values. The honorable congressmen, Frank Wolf (10th district of VA) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (11th district of NJ), commended HSS for the leadership role in promoting healthy activities, such as Yoga.

The Yogathon also partnered with “Let’s Move!” a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama, dedicated to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.

A senior citizen, V. T. Balanarsimha (Troy, OH) did 108 Surya Namaskar daily for 14 days, thus setting a wonderful example for youngsters and adults. Lamitr, a 4th Grader, has been participating in the Surya Namaskar Yajna for last two years. He got an award for highest count in age category (5 to 12 yrs) for two consecutive years. He was happy to receive it from vice-Mayor of the city of Cupertino. He was really excited and said he was looking forward to participate in the program next year too. Gargi, a 8th Grader, got an award for highest count in age category (13 to 19 yrs). She did 1690 Surya Namskars in 15 days. She is looking forward to join the program next year as well. Sadasiva, who works with Visa, did 10 sets of Surya Namaskar every day. He began his day at 5:30 am in the morning with the daily dose of Surya Namaskar to keep himself fit and energized for the whole day.

All in all, the SNY-2012 was a huge success. Praveen Dhir, the national coordinator, summed it up by stating, “It is a real accomplishment of this project that many participants continue this exercise year round and spread the message to stay fit and get in shape with their friends, family and the society”. We, the organizers of the Yogathon, thank all the participants, community groups and citizens for their support and promotion of this event. We wish them great health through sun salutations until the next Yogathon!!

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