Yoga Day at Parco di San Sisto (Italian Hindu Union)

Yoga Day in Rome's green spaces

Every year, to mark the International Day of Yoga proclaimed by the United Nations, the Italian Hindu Union (Sanatana Dharma Samgha) brings a public celebration to Rome. In 2026, the event moves to one of the capital's most evocative green lungs: Parco di San Sisto, located along Via di Valle delle Camene, just a stone's throw from the Baths of Caracalla and the Caelian Hill. Here, amidst pines and lawns, yoga practice becomes a collective, free, and accessible experience for everyone.

An event open to all

The highlight of the day is a public yoga class, designed for both seasoned practitioners and beginners stepping onto the mat for the first time. No prior experience or special equipment is required: simply bring your own mat and a desire to breathe, move, and find balance in nature, within the quiet of a park overlooking Roman ruins.

Beyond yoga: Ayurveda and Indian cuisine

The initiative goes beyond physical practice, offering a true journey into Indian culture. After the yoga session, a workshop dedicated to Ayurvedic spices and herbs introduces participants to the principles of this ancient Indian medical tradition, exploring scents, knowledge, and medicinal plants. The day concludes with an Indian cuisine tasting, a convivial opportunity to discover the flavors, traditions, and hospitality of the subcontinent.

Solidarity and agroecology

A distinctive feature of the event is a symbolic gesture for participants: the distribution of aromatic plants grown as part of an agroecology program at the Vercelli Prison. This project combines earth stewardship with social reintegration, transforming Yoga Day into a moment of well-being that also supports the common good.

An institutional event in the Capital

The event is held with the patronage of the Department of Environment of Rome Capital and the collaboration of the Embassy of India, reflecting the cultural and diplomatic bond that yoga represents. In Rome, as in other Italian cities involved with the Italian Hindu Union, International Yoga Day becomes a bridge between East and West, celebrated in Lazio in a setting unique in the world, between the monuments of ancient Rome and the greenery of the Valle delle Camene.