Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, the President of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation.
Image: Supplied
The Sivananda World Peace Foundation hosted a precursor yoga day event at Pelican Island in Richards Bay on Saturday, ahead of the 12th International Day of Yoga on June 21 at the Durban Amphitheatre, opposite the Elangeni Hotel.
The yoga events are being hosted by Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, the President of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation.
Mabheka Zulu said Saturday's event brought together pupils from across the region under the theme 'Yoga for Students. Yoga, Unity in Diversity'.
He said the event reinforced yoga’s role as a unifying force that transcended language, culture, religion and background.
The key highlights included:
- A pupil-centred yoga session that focused on breathwork, mindfulness, and simple asanas designed for young people to manage stress, improve focus, and build emotional resilience ahead of their examinations.
- Unity in diversity where young people from different cultural and religious backgrounds practised side by side, embodying the spirit of ubuntu - “I am because we are.”
- A peace and social cohesion programme that emphasised yoga not only as physical discipline but as a tool for moral regeneration, mutual respect, and community harmony in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mabheka Zulu said the Sivananda World Peace Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to using yoga as a platform for promoting peace among youth in diverse communities, fostering harmony through shared practice and dialogue, and building togetherness.
"Pelican Island provided a serene and symbolic setting. It is a reminder that even in the midst of movement and activity, one can find stillness, balance, and connection. The foundation extends gratitude to all pupils, teachers, community leaders, and partners who made this precursor event possible. This is one step toward a larger celebration of yoga as a bridge for social cohesion in KZN."