White Rock finds balance on International Yoga Day
Published 1:00 pm Monday, June 22, 2026
The White Rock community came together on June 21 in celebration of International Yoga Day.
Yoga mats stretched across nearly half of Canada’s longest pier the morning of June 21 as hundreds gathered under sunny skies and a light ocean breeze to celebrate International Yoga Day through movement, mindfulness and community.
The free event was hosted by Kevala Yoga and supported by the City of White Rock and welcomed participants of all ages and experience levels.
Attendees brought their own yoga mats and for an hour they were guided through breathing, stretching and other yoga practices overlooking Semiahmoo Bay.
Led by Nalin Mann alongside fellow Kavala Yoga instructors, the session was designed to focus on experiencing yoga beyond just physical postures and instead through breathwork, meditation and collective energy.
International Yoga Day is celebrated annually on June 21 after being established by the United Nations in 2014 to recognize yoga’s physical and mental health benefits. The date coincides with the summer solstice, symbolizing balance and longevity.
Organizers say this specific event was designed to be an interactive and inclusive experience.
That sense of inclusion extended beyond the practice itself, opening the event to become accessible for all. Chairs were made available for participants who required them, and organizers also designated an accessible area to help ensure everyone could comfortably participate.
White Rock city councillor Susan Bains spoke with Peace Arch News prior to the event and shared her affections for this celebration.
“The reason why I attended last year was that they advertised the event with the inclusion of chairs for adaptive means and they did this without being asked to or told,” shared Bains, who returned after attending the inaugural event in 2025.
“Very few events consider adaptations so the fact that they thought about it on their own from the start, it was so amazing,” she noted.
The second annual celebration offered a much different experience than its inaugural event, which met with rainy weather last year.
This year, under clear blue skies, participants filled nearly half of the pier, creating a seat of yoga mats as families, friends and individuals practised side by side. The event also offered attendees complimentary chai.
The positive atmosphere that exuded from this yoga event was carried beyond just the pier.
Many participants took to social media following the event to share photos and express their gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate International Yoga Day alongside their community.
For more information about Kevala Yoga and its community programming visit kevalayoga.ca.