Although most people wouldn't consider New York City's Times Square a good place to find peace and tranquility, thousands of yogis gathered at the tourist attraction Friday to celebrate the 2013 Summer Solstice.
The 11th annual Solstice in Times Square, presented by the Times Square Alliance, took place all day on Friday, June 21. The event, which was sponsored by Athleta, the premium fitness and lifestyle apparel brand for women, marked the longest day of the year with five free "Mind Over Madness" yoga classes and a yoga village from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It challenged the yoga enthusiasts to find peace, tranquility and transcendence in one of the world's busiest and most frenetic places. Fifteen thousand people registered to roll out their yoga mats and join in.
Tim Tompkins, president of Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event, said: "Solstice is an experiment in balance: The sun standing still in the sky on the longest day of the year, and thousands of yogis standing still, and being still, in the middle of the world's busiest crossroad. It's a metaphor for calming the mind amidst the madness of modern life," according to a press release.
"Come share your radiance, be as brilliant as the sun," said Douglass Stewart, co-founder of Solstice in Times Square.
In England, more than 20,000 people gathered at the famed Stonehenge monument to celebrate the solstice on Friday morning. Despite the cloud coverage, the Assoicated Press reports that a bright and joyous spirit prevailed amongst the large crowd.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
