
Can Yoga Reshape Global Politics? The History of International Day of Yoga with Indian Foreign Service Officer Prakash Gupta - Consul General
Leadership and YogaShow Notes
Can Yoga Reshape Global Politics? The History of International Day of Yoga with Indian Foreign Service Officer Prakash Gupta - Consul General Inside the United Nations: how yoga became a tool for global diplomacy with Indian Foreign Service Officer Prakash Gupta. Plus, how yoga is shaping our community in Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest. Let’s talk about International Day of Yoga, its story, and why it's important to have this special day every June 21st. Ever wonder what would happen if the world's leaders stepped onto a yoga mat together? Or if all the countries in the world prioritized yoga? In this episode, I’m sitting down with Consul General Prakash Gupta, a key diplomat behind the UN resolution for the International Day of Yoga, to explore the intersection of yoga, and global diplomacy. We dive deep into how yoga serves as a unifier on the world stage, and grounds leaders in their shared humanity. Plus, we tackle a crucial conversation for Western yoga teachers on how to honor and respect yoga’s Indian roots.
Consulate General of India in Seattle: https://indiainseattle.gov.in/
Connect on the Consulate on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indianconsulateseattle / Patreon: Leadership and Yoga CLUB. To support my work on this podcast, to meet fellow listeners, and more… Join below. https://www.patreon.com/cw/shawnakru
Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru
Shawna’s website
Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list
Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor)
Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND (My sponsor) SHAWNA10 is the code for 10% off products and consults
Key Words Yoga teachers, international day of yoga, yoga philosophy, yoga history, yoga roots, authentic yoga, mindfulness.
Time stamps: 00:00 intro 03:34 animation 07:40 yoga adopted by the United Nations: the story & Prime Minister Modi 08:30 yoga under the agenda of Global Health 09:30 writing the resolution for the United Nations on yoga 11:30 simplicity of messaging of yoga for world leaders 14:00 what does yoga mean? 15:37 why should world leaders pay attention to yoga? 16:39 Indian philosophy on yoga and connection 19:00 yoga helps us feel our own humanity, so we can feel for all of humanity 19:20 top diplomats practicing yoga together 20:30 yoga & international diplomacy 22:00 AYUSH ministry 25:00 how can yoga teachers respect yoga’s Indian roots 26:00 suiting own interests in yoga vs being intentional 28:30 hooked onto yoga 30:00 International Day of Yoga future goals 34:00 qualities of an exceptional leader 35:30 hope for the future of yoga 36:30 billboard message
More from Leadership and Yoga
Jordan B is a yoga educator and content creator, known for her “big sister advice” and her gift for translating yoga philosophy into practical wisdom you can actually use. In this episode, we talk about creativity in yoga, discipline vs. devotion, what makes yoga an art form, why Jordan calls yoga “body poetry”, and how to integrate yoga philosophy into your life and practice. This conversation feels as warm and personal as Jordan’s advice, full of gems for yoga students and yoga teachers. This episode is for you if you love yoga and are looking for ways to carry it beyond the mat and into your life.
I fell in love with yoga because of a teacher at a dirty studio down the street, because of the ones who taught me to float and fly, and because of the teachers who called me by name before I was sure I belonged. After interviewing over 100 yoga teachers—from living legends like Sri Dharma Mittra and David Swenson to daily studio instructors—I realized the real magic isn't in theory or instant gratification. It’s in the stories, the trust, and the willingness to keep figuring it out when there is no clear path. In Part 1 of this mini-series, we’re cutting through the noise and diving deep into three core lessons on Abundance & Trust: It’s in the living, not the theory
Jada, known online as @flowgogirl, is a yoga and movement teacher as well as a content creator. Her love of movement is a contagious energy, and her passion for yoga and dance is clear in everything she shares. She inspires her students and audience to honor the gift of life through movement and to remember how lucky we are to be able to move our bodies. In this conversation, she talks about where her creativity comes from, how she trusts her body to guide her, her morning routine, and her experience of moving through grief.
Poetic lessons from yoga on not rushing. If you’ve been living on fast-forward, constantly optimization-obsessed, and terrified that slowing down means you’ll run out of energy or fall behind, this episode is your permission to stop sprinting. We’re diving into the real reason we trap ourselves in chronic busyness, why we’re deeply tired rather than lazy, and how to transition from operating on stress hormones and caffeine to tapping into true creative presence. I share stories from the mat, savasana, alongside reflections on yoga philosophy, the 8 limbs, and why yoga doesn’t take time, it gives us time. Plus, we explore poetic reflections on time scarcity, breaking the addiction to hustle, and five simple ways you can practice "un-hurrying" your everyday life this week. Patreon: Leadership and Yoga CLUB. To support my work on this podcast, join monthly workshops, meet fellow listeners, and more… Join below. https://www.patreon.com/cw/shawnakru Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru Shawna’s website OfferingTree is an all-in-one business platform for yoga teachers and studios. It handles your website, scheduling, payments, and marketing in one place. Try it free and get a discount with my link here! (My sponsor) Sign up for Yoga Trade’s passport: https://join.yogatrade.com/membership (My sponsor) STAmina apnea breath hold app mentioned: https://getstamina.app/ Krishnamacharya poetry: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cWwnn_nOU5FHPkqBbPRJnoicHmC6Zbzg57axeYp9M50/edit?usp=sharing
Arundhati Baitmangalkar is a Seattle-based yoga teacher originally from South India. She is the host of the Let's Talk Yoga podcast and owner of the Aham Yoga Studio. Arundhati has a beautiful, tangible way of explaining how to teach yoga philosophy that is both practical and grounded in yoga's roots. She shares her method for measuring "success" in your yoga practice (the "three C's") and advice for teaching yoga with heart. This episode is for you if you're looking for guidance as a yoga teacher or to feel re-energized by your own yoga practice.