How Yoga Came To America Through Chicago

yoga chicago
In this June 24, 2014 photo, Tameka Lawson, executive director of a local non-profit group called 'I Grow Chicago' leads a yoga class in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
yoga chicago
In this June 24, 2014 photo, Tameka Lawson, executive director of a local non-profit group called 'I Grow Chicago' leads a yoga class in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

How Yoga Came To America Through Chicago

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Before he left India for the United States, in 1893 Swami Vivekananda wrote, “In America is the place, the people, the opportunity for everything new.” He wanted to introduce Yoga philosophy to Americans. Vivekananda’s first speech was at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He began by saying, “Sisters and brothers of America.” The conventional wisdom is that this speech introduced Yoga to the U.S. We’ll talk about the history of Yoga in America with Jatinder Singh Bedi, a Chicago-based historian and chief editor of the Indo news service “Hello NRI”. Every June 21st is the U.N. International Day of Yoga. Bedi will tell us about celebrations happening in the Chicago area through this weekend.