Health care is a national issue that has received great public and media attention in US recently due to its economic impacts.  However, more than mere economics, staying fit is the need of every individual. Making personal health of every man, woman and child a priority, Hindu Swayamsevak USA, Inc. (HSS) initiated a nationwide "Health for Humanity Yogathon" in 2007. This initiative is a unique, nationwide effort to create awareness about Yoga and develop a healthy body, mind, and spirit.  This unique annual project is a two-week program that starts during the second week of January, around the time when festival of Makar Samkranti is celebrated.  This initiative introduces beginners to several health benefits of the unique routine of "Surya Namaskaaras".   The Surya Namaskaar yoga routine integrates ten simple and effective yoga postures/steps and regulated breathing technique to provide immense health benefits, whether one is a beginner or a yoga veteran.  As a part of this Yogathon, the Surya Namaskaras can be performed individually at home or at any other public place or private gathering.  This year Yogathon was conducted from Jan 16-Jan 31. More than 5000 participants from all faiths, practices, gender and age, performed over half a million Surya Namaskars at 170 different places in 40 states covering mainland US to as far as Hawaii!

Locally, in New England, more than 150 participants performed more than 40,000 Surya Namaskars in these two weeks.  "Several participants who experienced the benefits of the Surya Namaskars including a general feeling of well-being and weight-loss, vowed to continue surya namaskars as a routine", mentioned Vinod Bhat, New England Coordinator for Yogathon. In addition to HSS Balagokulams, several individuals, a Montessori school and Nataraja Yoga Center participated in this Yogathon. It was impressive to watch and participate with energetic and enthusiastic young children and young-adults who performed non-stop Surya Namaskaars - some 10 to 35 sets or 130 to 455 Surya Namaskars during special weekend events!

Nationwide, several other innovative experiments were performed to reach out to society at large:

Physical exercise time during school hours was utilized to learn and participate in Yogathon. 440 students participated in Yogathon at Ridgewood Elementary School, Renton, WA. Similar sessions were also conducted in schools from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Texas. Cities of Canton MI, Chapel Hill NC, Cupertino CA, Sunnyvale CA, Irvine, CA and Milipitas CA, Tampa FL, and Decatur GA proclaimed "Yoga/Surya Namaskar Day"or "Health for Humanity Day" in their respective cities. Honorary Mayor Mr. William McLeod of Hoffman Estates, a suburb of Chicago, IL actively participated in the local SNY workshop. Mr. Ramesh Bhutada, CEO of Starpipe Products in Huston, TX has encouraged his employees to participate in this Yogathon. Every day over 20 employees were attending the Surya Namaskar session at the company’s premises. He narrated his experience, “Only with Diet and exercise, I have recovered from 11 different ailments in last 12 months, without any medication.” Visiting Chinese professional Guo Wen Jing participated in Yogathon event at George Bush Park, Houston, TX and commented, “The atmosphere of this event was harmonious, I was deeply inspired since it's my first time to do Surya Namaskar

This occasion was also used by HSS volunteers in Houston Texas to raise funds for those affected in recent Haiti earthquake. Not only young, youth, and adults representing 38 organizations from all walks of life performed Surya Namaskars for continuous 24 hours, but one of the community philanthropists also pledged to pay $10 per participant to assist relief work in Haiti.  More than $3000 were collected during this event and were contributed to Haitian relief organization through Sewa International.   US gymnast and Olympics medalist Raj Bhavsar also participated in this Yogathon.

Many participants expressed satisfaction at not only starting on a lifelong
journey toward better physical/mental health and well-being, but also at
giving something back to the society.

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