Get Zen with These Pictures of International Yoga Day 2015

Overview

The globe can now melt into a solid savasana, with thousands of International Yoga Day sessions finishing up worldwide today. From New Delhi's 35,000-strong Guinness World Record-breaking session to a bright yellow-themed session beneath the Eiffel Tower and early morning lawn sessions at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, yoga newcomers and hardcore yogis alike found a moment of peace and flexibility this Sunday, June 21 for the official day of yoga. It's a UN-approved international day, introduced by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi last year after he convinced the UN to dedicate a public day to yoga — a move that hasn't come without controversy.

But aside from the religious debate, corporate piggybacking and general eye-rolling surrounding the event, International Yoga Day saw hundreds of thousands of yoga enthusiasts taking part in both epic public classes and smaller private sessions, from the record-setting session on Delhi's ceremonial Rajpath boulevard, to a rainy Times Square event to seaside solo ventures. Take a peruse at these early-rising, flexible fiends.

DELHI, INDIA

TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY

Time Square shut down for yoga! So amazing! #SolsticeTSq #yoga #yogaday #Bellavita #centerpfitall #timesquare #NYC #namaste

A photo posted by 161 w 22nd street, NYC (@bellavita_wellness) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:21pm PDT

Celebrating #internationalyogaday in Times Square which ended with a very satisfying torrential downpour and a free yoga mat ?????????????? #NYC #yoga A photo posted by Anna Jordan (@ajhealth) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:59pm PDT

EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS

Today, is many things. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s #SummerSolstice. For those in the U.S. and U.K., it’s #FathersDay. And for all those around the world, it just so happens to be #InternationalYogaDay. #Yoga-fans took part globally, with people in more than 192 countries said to have taken to the mat. Click the link in our profile to see more striking images of record setting yoga classes around the world. #Paris #YogaDay (Image: AP Photo, Kamil Zihnioglu)

A photo posted by Mashable (@mashable) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT

Today was the first #InternationalYogaDay! Hundreds of people practiced #yoga under the #EiffelTower. Wish we could have been there. (Pic: Getty Images)

A photo posted by Huffington Post (@huffingtonpost) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:27pm PDT

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

And.... it's a wrap! G'day everyone and thank you to all the participants of #YokoOnoPeace this morning! @lululemonausnz #yoga #Sydney A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 9:05pm PDT

Namaste, world!! Sydney says good morning to @themuseumofmodernart and all #YokoOnoPeace participants around the world. Kicking off the festivities with Vinyasa #yoga courtesy of @lululemonausnz, facing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House

A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 5:03pm PDT

UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA

VARANASI, INDIA

HANOI, VIETNAM

TORONTO, CANADA

#internationalyogaday #summersolstice #yoga #yogaday #love #loveeverydamnday #namaste #namastebitches #lalala #bums ???? #distillerydistrict #toronto #yyz #together #the6 #6ix #mylife #life #live #livehard #bekind #kindawesome #summer #yogaoutside #everyday #peace #trueloveisbluelove #grateful #balance

A photo posted by Ruby Fra (@rubytues101) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT

INDIAN NAVY, INS VIRAAT

REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Taken at @redondopier 3rd Saturdays monthly free yoga class yesterday with @theflybuddha benefiting #cscrb #internationalyogaday #yoga #redondopier #visitredondo

A photo posted by Redondo Beach Pier (@redondopier) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:06pm PDT

GANGTOK, INDIA

??????Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self?????? #yesterday#internationalyogaday#instagram A photo posted by Sangay Diki Bhutia ???? (@_to_the_universe) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:36pm PDT

BOARDMAN, OHIO

My @puryoga family #summersolstice #108sunsalutations #internationalyogaday

A photo posted by Alexa Marie (@howdoyoueatanelephant) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:35pm PDT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

International Yoga Day celebrated at the Oxygen Health & Fitness Expo at the Karibe Convention Center. #oxygenexpo #Motivation #yoga #internationalyogaday #michellelewin #enjoy #motion #fit #igfit #FitFam #fitspo #fitness #HaitiFIT #haiti #openair #nature #stretch #yogis #international #caribbean A photo posted by FloM???? (@fitness__flo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 10:43am PDT

VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Grabación del evento por el día internacional del #yoga con @studioyogaenequilibrio e Israel Chiang. ???????? #namaste #veracruz

A photo posted by José Alfredo Zayas Rodríguez (@zayas04) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:49pm PDT

EDMONTON, CANADA

Early morning yoga with this one? Not a bad way to start the day. #sunrisesolsticenamaskar #sunrise #yoga #yegyoga #edmontonyoga Thanks to @sattvamisle for leading the class and to @robindra for the sick beats. A photo posted by deantumibay (@deantumibay) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT

MONUMENT CIRCLE, INDIANAPOLIS

Today was the first International Day of Yoga, on the Summer Solstice. Indianapolis was one of four cities given a grant to celebrate! Got to practice yoga on Monument Circle downtown. #Indy #Indianapolis #yoga #internationalyogaday #yogi #health #SummerSolstice #namaste #outdooryogis A photo posted by Eric Gettelfinger (@egettelfinger) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT

JAMAICA

What a dream come true it was tonight to see 580 Jamaicans, from all walks of life, practicing Yoga in honor of the first ever UN designated International Day of Yoga! My heart is full. Changing Jamaica one Breath at a Time! #livefitlivelifelivelove #everythingispossible #internationaldayofyoga #yoga #jamaica

A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:54pm PDT

One Love. One Yoga. One Jamaica. 580 souls practicing together in honor of International Day of Yoga. So much Love Peace and Understanding tonight. This, more than anything is what Jamaica needs now! #internationaldayofyoga #everythingispossible #yoga #jamaica #livefitlivelifelivelove A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT

TWIN FALLS, WASHINGTON

Celebrating Summer Solstice with a dip in Twin Falls! ???? Connect to the light within you and around you. Share the joy of this life with each other! #aloha #spirit #dailybliss #yoga #retreat #yogamusewest #muktiyoga #dream #believe #move #unite #strengthen #evolve #manifest #magic #divine #connection #earth #sun #love #light #namaste

A photo posted by Heather Archer (@heathernamaste) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:56pm PDT

BHARATPUR, INDIA

#yoga #day #morning #policeparedground #bharatpur #21june #sunday #people #photography #mobilephotography #htc #health #yogaday #uniformity #instanaturefriends #india #psxxo A photo posted by Glory (@gloryxxo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT

MEDAN, INDONESIA

#internationaldayofyoga #medan #yogamedan #yoga

A photo posted by Kamalini Yoga Studio (@kamaliniyoga) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:55pm PDT

AUSTIN, TEXAS

#YogaMob #Unify #Yoga #ATX #Austin #Texas #NationalYogaDay

A photo posted by Maria Lucente (@mariaisinverted) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:47pm PDT

ANAMAYA, COSTA RICA

Happy International Yoga Day from all these Beautiful Souls || Surrender to the Love and Happy Summer Solstice?? #AnamayaResort #CostaRica #Montezuma #Yoga #YogaInspiration #YogaEveryDamnDay #YTT #YogaTeacherTraining #Namaste #SummerSolstice #YogaLove #InternationalYogaDay

A photo posted by Anamaya (@anamayaresort) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:43pm PDT

VALENCIA, SPAIN

Otra hermosa toma de este Día Internacional del Yoga. Juntos bajo el samán. Felices y plenos. NAMASTE. #Yoga #Yoga24horas #ViveEnYoga #Valencia #YogaValencia #diainternacionaldelyoga #internationalyogaday #internationalyogaday2015

A photo posted by ? Uma Devi ? (@climbyogagirl) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT