Orpington, June 21, 2025 — The Healthy Living Yogashram (HLY), a cherished yoga institution serving the Bromley community since 2013, hosted its 5th annual International Day of Yoga celebration at Highway Primary School in Orpington. Marking this significant global event, the celebration drew a full house of 50 enthusiastic participants, uniting individuals in a shared commitment to physical vitality, mental clarity, and social well-being.
Offered entirely free of charge, the event exemplified HLY’s dedication to accessibility and community service, with all expenses generously covered by the organisation and its affiliated subsidiary. More than just a yoga session, the event served as a dynamic hub for wellness education, inclusive community engagement, and interdisciplinary health initiatives.
A highlight of this year’s celebration was a meaningful collaboration with DKMS, the renowned German bone marrow donor registry. This partnership sought to amplify awareness around stem cell donation, particularly within the Asian community—where donor registration remains critically low. This advocacy added a profound layer to the day, connecting personal health with the life-saving potential of medical philanthropy.
Participants were treated to a diverse program featuring contributions from esteemed organisations such as Isha Foundation, Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Yogakaar, and Patanjali Yogpeeth. The presence of frontline NHS consultants specialising in obesity and oncology further underscored the scientific and medical validation of yoga in managing chronic health conditions.
The event was graced by Chief Guest Cllr Mike Botting, former Mayor of Bromley and current Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board. In his address, he praised HLY’s enduring impact:
“Healthy Living Yogashram has been a cornerstone in promoting health and wellbeing in our community since 2013. It is also playing a significant role in addressing loneliness, which is fast becoming a modern epidemic. Low-cost community yoga centres like HLY have the potential to be transformative for those feeling isolated.”
Cllr Botting and his wife Kim participated in the entire event, engaging with guests and showing strong support for the initiative.
The event’s seamless execution was credited to the dedicated organising team: Cllr Dr. Sunil Gupta, founder of HLY; yoga instructor Sitansu Sahoo; and Sandeep Gollapudy, an IT professional whose coordination efforts brought together multiple yoga organisations for a cohesive and enlightening program.
Further elevating the spirit of the day, volunteers led by Mr. Ajit Gupta from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) served nourishing vegetarian meals, adding warmth and hospitality to the celebration.
Buoyed by the enthusiastic turnout and positive feedback, HLY has pledged to return in 2026 with an even more expansive event. The celebration reaffirmed yoga’s power not only as a personal health discipline, but also as a catalyst for communal harmony and holistic healing.
