Mumbai: To mark International Yoga Day, the BMC’s 'D' Ward has organised a special yoga session near August Kranti Maidan in Grant Road (West) on Saturday. The event will be held at the Gokuldas Tejpal Hall from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM. The session is a part of the civic body’s larger initiative that began in 2022 with the launch of ‘Shiv Yoga Centres’ aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles across Mumbai.
Initially well-received, the programme saw 133 centres operating in 2023, catering to 167 batches and 6,133 citizens. However, participation has declined steadily. As of this year, only 106 centres remain active. A civic official attributed the drop to multiple factors: “Residents from higher-income groups already attend private yoga classes, while others leave mid-session due to work or school obligations. Low turnout in some areas has even led to the closure of centres.”
BMC’s ‘D’ Ward to host Yoga Day session at Gokuldas Tejpal Hall, Grant Road on June 21 | File Photo
He added, “We’re continuing efforts to raise awareness about the importance of yoga among citizens.” Around 41,750 beneficiaries have completed their training in the civic-run yoga centers between June 2022 to June 2025." The civic body provides required facilities for yoga with an instructor and place free of cost. A batch of 25–30 people are needed to conduct a session for which the instructor is paid Rs 4,000.
Meanwhile, yoga sessions will be held across all 25 administrative wards of Mumbai on Saturday, June 21, in coordination with the respective civic wards health officials, for both civic employees and local residents. The BMC has also added information about Shiv Yoga Centres to its official WhatsApp chatbot (8999228999). Citizens can access details such as session timings and locations in both Marathi and English.
