More than 200 people, including MPs, parliamentary staff and yoga enthusiasts, gathered in Parliament’s banquet hall on Monday, 16 June, for a special yoga and breathwork session led by the Art of Living Foundation, marking the seventh year of the event.
For the first time, the session was co-hosted by MPs from opposing parties, Labour’s Ginny Andersen and National’s Chris Bishop, who set aside political colours to celebrate the upcoming 11th International Day of Yoga.
Andersen opened the event with a speech, expressing her enthusiasm: “It's always a great event to be part of. Initiatives like this are so important for mental wellbeing, and it's encouraging to see leaders in Parliament embracing that.”
The Art of Living Foundation NZ spokesperson Kulbhushan Joshi emphasised that the event was about more than just celebrating yoga. “What we’re also raising awareness of is using the practice as a holistic tool for mental health, emotional clarity and collective wellbeing,” he said.
“Good mental health practices are so important, that’s why it’s vital to see the standard being set by our political leaders and policy makers. Hopefully businesses, organisations and individuals will be inspired to give it a try in their own workplaces or homes,” Joshi added.
Photo: Supplied
He noted that yoga and breathwork have a profound impact on the mind, offering life-transforming tools to manage stress and anxiety. “We’ve had people from all over the country approach us, many of them on the verge or in the middle of burnout, but they say they’ve noticed a significant improvement after taking part in yoga and breathwork practices.”
Photo: Supplied
“If we want to change the mental health story in New Zealand, we must move from talk to tools. Breathwork and meditation aren’t just wellness trends — they are time-tested techniques that can uplift entire communities. The beauty is, they’re accessible, free, and waiting for us to just begin,” he said.
The event marked a rare moment of cross-party unity and highlighted the growing importance of mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand’s political landscape.
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