The yoga week was launched on 17 June at the Ateshgah Fire Temple with multi-faith fire ceremony and an open-air yoga session. The dignitaries from the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the UN in Azerbaijan attended the Yoga event on 21 June in front of the Heydar Aliyev Center. The Head of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Ghulam Isaczai launched ‘Yoga Challenge- 2018’, a social media initiative to promote gender equality and women empowerment.

Hundreds of participants attended the Yoga events held at Sumgayit Seaside Boulevard in collaboration with Executive Power of Sumgayit on 18 June, at Yanar Dag on 20 June, and at Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Preserve Museum on 23 June. The yoga week was conducted in partnership with yoga schools in Baku, namely, Art of Living, Shivananda Yoga School, Yoga Shahi, Yoga Academy, Pullman Hotel. Several other groups, including the Institute for Rehabilitation of persons with Down Syndrome (Qaygi), ISCKON and Brahma Kumaris joined in the Yoga celebrations.

On 11 December 2014, the United Nations and its member states proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. Since then, every year, International Yoga Day is celebrated across the world in order to raise awareness about yoga and its many benefits for physical and mental well-being.

Ambassador of India, Sanjay Rana said that Yoga was much more than physical exercises, it is a system of physical and breathing exercises designed to improve harmony between body and mind. Regular practice of Yoga helps develop immunity to avoid physical ailments and counter stress. 

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