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The social networking service TikTok prides itself on setting trends. You probably remember seeing, or maybe even participated in, the #TikTokDanceChallenge when all of us were stuck at home during the beginning of the pandemic. It turns out that TikTok is also the place to be if you’re someone who likes to stay up to date on all of the latest and greatest food trends. 

While not every recipe on the social media app is a huge hit or even safe to make at home (Yes, we’re talking about you #ToasterGrilledCheese), we did a deep dive to track down all of the TikTok Food Trends that you should try right now. After you try these recipes, let us know which #TikTokFoodTrend is your favorite.  

#ProteinCoffee (Or ‘Proffee’)

Americans are drinking more coffee than ever. So, for those of you who need that cup of Joe in the morning to get your day going, and also need protein in the morning for your workout, you might want to try #proteincoffee or ‘proffee,’ which is a TikTok trend that involves mixing protein and coffee. 

Protein coffee made the Top 10 TikTok Food Trends list with 3.3 million Google search results and almost 19 million views. 

To make iced protein coffee or proffee, all you need to do is fill a glass halfway with ice, add eight ounces of coffee, and all (or part of) your favorite protein shake. Then you can play around with the coffee to protein shake ratio until you get it just right. You can also check out @iamfelipefitness’s protein coffee video to see how to make and drink a hot cup of proffee.  

Protein Coffee Video

@itsfelipefit

Try this protein coffee! ☕️ I used unsweetened almond milk and chocolate protein powder #fitnesstips #easyrecipes #fatloss #protein #coffee

♬ original sound – 🥴

#PestoEggs

TikTok user @amywilichowski or “pesto egg girl” as she writes in her bio, set off a craze when she shared her #pestoeggs recipe. Her breakfast recipe video, which she originally posted on April 26, 2021, now has almost 12 million views. 

She says that all you need to do to make #pestoeggs is use pesto instead of the normal cooking oil that you use to make your eggs in the morning. Then you can make your eggs scrambled, sunny-side up, or however you’d like. The trick here is that the oil in the pesto will keep your eggs from sticking to the pan. Wilichowski recommends eating your #pestoeggs on a piece of toast with ricotta, smashed avocado, honey, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. 

Pesto Eggs Video

@amywilichowski

#eggs #pestoeggs #homecook

♬ cooking video – cooking

#CarrotBacon

If you’re looking for a side dish to go with your #pestoeggs, actress, social media personality, and vegan cook @iamtabithabrown has the perfect #veganbacon recipe for you (even if you’re not vegan).  She first got everyone on TikTok excited when she posted a video of #carrotbacon, which is now on the Top 10 TikTok Food Trends list with 565,000 Google searches and 8.2 million views. This is pretty cool since carrot bacon is a great way for people to add more veggies to their diet. Here are the ingredients and instructions for Tabitha Brown’s Carrot Bacon recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 to 2 full-sized carrots, sliced using a vegetable peeler
• 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon of onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions: 

• Peel the carrots, trying to get a fairly thin slice.
• Mix all of the ingredients for the marinade.
• Soak the carrot slices in the marinade for two minutes. 
• Preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Place the carrot strips on your air fryer tray. 
• Then place the tray on the top shelf of your air fryer. 
• Air fry for five minutes, or until you get a nice crispy finish. 

Carrot Bacon Video

@iamtabithabrown

Carrot bacon❤️ #tabithabrown #veganbacon

♬ original sound – Tabitha Brown

#BakedFetaPasta

Finnish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen created “Uunifetapasta” in 2019, which is the Finnish word for oven-baked feta pasta. Häyrinen’s recipe turned into a viral hit in Finland, with feta cheese sales going up 300% in Finland at the time and stores running out of the ingredients to make her baked feta pasta recipe. 

If you’re wondering why Baked Feta Pasta is part of this viral food trends article, that’s because American blogger and chef @grilledcheesesocial translated the recipe into English and shared it on Instagram, where it went viral once again. Soon after, @feelgoodfoodie shared the recipe on TikTok and soon baked feta pasta became the new pasta, enjoying a third viral wave. “Feta Pasta” has been searched over 825,000 times on Google and viewed almost 950 million times, making it the #1 Ranked TikTok Food Trend. 

Since we want to give credit to the actual creator of the baked feta pasta recipe, here’s the original #uunifetapasta recipe courtesy of Jenni Häyrinen at Liemessä. This recipe yields four servings. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound of wheat pasta
• 1 block (200 grams) of Greek feta cheese
• ½ cup of olive oil
• ½ cup of red chili pepper
• Cherry tomatoes (500 grams)
• 4 garlic cloves (Optional)
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Bunch of fresh basil leaves 

Instructions: 

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Pour some olive oil on the bottom of your baking dish. Then place the whole feta block on top. 
• Chop the red chili pepper and add on top of the feta cheese. Then pour more olive oil on top.
• Place the cherry tomatoes on the sides of your baking dish and roll around in oil. Grind some pepper and season with a pinch of salt. 
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes in the middle rack of your oven. 
• Increase the heat to 440 degrees Fahrenheit and move your baking dish to the upper rack. Use the grilling mode for another 10 minutes. (Note: This might cause your fire alarm to go off as Jenni Häyrinen says that this causes her fire alarm to go off every single time.)
• Cook your whole wheat pasta al dente according to the cooking instructions. 
• Break the feta apart a bit and mix with the tomatoes. Then mix the sauce with the pasta and add plenty of basil leaves. 
• Bonus Tip: Garlic also goes well with baked feta. So, if you’d like to add garlic, cut four garlic cloves in half lengthwise, toss them in the same time as you do the tomatoes, and roll the garlic in the olive oil. 

Baked Feta Pasta Video

@feelgoodfoodie

Baked feta pasta with cherry tomatoes!! Recipe on blog • Inspired by @grilledcheesesocial 😘 #tiktokpartner #LearnOnTikTok #fetapasta #recipes

♬ original sound – Feel Good Foodie

#CornRibs

#CornRibs or “vegan ribs” became a viral sensation on TikTok after @spicednice posted a video of corn ribs and said, “Oh my goodness, these corn ribs need to be the next trending food! They’re so fun!” Apparently on TikTok, ask and you shall create the next #TikTokFoodTrend.  

While corn ribs don’t taste anything like barbecue ribs (in case you were wondering), this recipe courtesy of @spiced.nice’s Instagram account offers a fun and delicious way to enjoy corn while it’s still in season. 

Ingredients:

• 3 ears of corn (makes 12 corn ribs)
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon of chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• A pinch of salt
• ½ cup of mayonnaise (You can also substitute with Greek yogurt or sour cream)
• 2 teaspoons of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 
• Juice of ½ of a lime or 1 lime (to taste)
• Chopped cilantro for topping (optional)
• Cotija cheese for topping (optional) 

Instructions: 

• Cut the corn into four equal parts. 
• In a bowl, mix the olive oil and the spices together. Then brush this oil mixture over the corn wedges. 
• To cook, air fry the corn wedges at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes on one side. Then flip the corn ribs over and air fry them for another four minutes. (You can also bake the corn ribs at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until they’ve curled up and are slightly charred. 
• To make the chipotle lime mayo, mix the mayo (or substitute with Greek yogurt or sour cream), lime juice, and the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with a pinch of salt. 
• When the corn is ready, drizzle the sauce on top of it. If you’d like, you can add cotija cheese and/or cilantro as a topping. Then enjoy!

Corn Ribs Video

@spicednice

No fr these hit different than any other way of eating corn! Follow for more 🔥 recipes #cooking #corn #kitchenhack #stepbystep #foodie #trendingfood

♬ Chicago (Jersey Club) – DJ Smallz 732

Brightly colored citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are very popular thanks to their sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. An excellent source of vitamin C, citrus fruits offer a number of benefits.

Citrus fruits are also quite versatile. They can be eaten whole, juiced, or added to your favorite drink as a garnish. Plus, citrus fruits are low in calories, which makes them ideal for anyone watching their caloric intake. So, let’s take a closer look at six ways that you can get more out of your citrus fruits.

6 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Citrus Fruits

Proper Citrus Fruit Storage

Did you know that citrus fruits stop ripening and start decomposing as soon as they’re picked? In fact, citrus fruits will only keep for around four days at room temperature. However, when placed in a refrigerator, citrus fruits can last up to four weeks. Talk about a huge difference! Therefore, to get the most out of your citrus fruits, avoid storing them in a fruit bowl unless you know that you and your family will eat or juice the fruit in a few days.

Use The Microwave To Get More Juice Out Of Citrus Fruits

Storing your citrus fruit in the refrigerator is the way to go if you won’t be using it right away. But the opposite holds true if you’re planning on juicing your citrus fruit. That’s because the cool refrigerator causes the juice-holding membranes in citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, to firm up. This, in turn, limits their juice-producing potential.

The most common method for juicing is to roll the citrus fruit on a firm countertop in order to break the juice-holding membranes. You can still do that, if you’d like. Or, you can cut oranges or lemons, arrange them on a microwave safe plate, and then microwave them for 20 seconds on high. By warming the fruit, you’ll be softening the chilled, firm membranes, which will allow the juice to flow more freely.

If you’ve already placed your citrus fruit in the refrigerator, set it out for at least 30 minutes to allow it to reach room temperature. Then place it in the microwave on high for 20 seconds before juicing. This will help to increase the juice yield. And after you juice citrus fruit, you can store it in your refrigerator for up to two weeks or in your freezer for a few months.

Make Citrus Fruit Garnishes

Don’t garnishes just make every drink look and taste better? We think so. So, if you have extra citrus fruit around, you can make fun garnishes to go with your favorite CUT Energy drink flavors – berry lemonade, watermelon pomegranate, or orange mango pineapple.

To make lemon spirals (also known as lemon curls or lemon twists), first select unblemished lemons. Then slice the ends off a lemon to create a flat surface. Make one slice down the length of the lemon and gently separate the peel from the inner fruit of the lemon. After that, roll the peel lengthwise to form a tight spiral, leaving no space between the layers. Insert two toothpicks on either end to secure the lemon peel. Place in water in the refrigerator overnight, or at least for two hours minimum. Remove the peel from the water and remove the toothpicks. Then slice the peel into ¼-inch slices. Uncoil the peel and place it into your drink or let it hang off the side for a little extra flair. These lemon spirals will last for three to five days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make orange or lime curls the same way.

Add Flavor To Your Food Using Citrus Fruit Peels (Or Slices)

There’s a lot of flavor in the rind of citrus fruits. That’s why you shouldn’t just throw them away. Instead, add the peels or slices of already-juiced fruits directly to a pot (or pan) to infuse their flavor to a meal while it’s cooking. Just make sure to remove the peels from the pot or pan before serving. You can also add limes to taco filling and lemon to pasta dishes. Zest is another common way to add a citrusy flavor to meals as zest can be used to season dressings, side sauces, and baked goods.

Use Extra Lemons To Polish Pots And Pans

Since citrus fruits last for only about four days at room temperature, use any lemons that are about to expire (or that are recently expired) to polish your pots and pans instead of just tossing them in the trash. To brighten dull aluminum pans, cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side over the inside and outside of the pan. Instead of rinsing the pan, buff it with a soft cloth. You can also polish chrome faucets with the rind. Just rub the rind over the metal, rinse with cool water, and dry with a soft cloth.

Let Citrus Fruit Work As A Natural Bug Spray

On buggy nights, you can rub fresh orange or lemon peels over your exposed skin to keep mosquitoes and/or gnats away. Then once the bugs are no longer bothering you, you can use your favorite citrus fruits to make one of these citrus dessert recipes. 

Summertime is all about taking trips to the beach with the people you love most. Turning on your “out of office” notifications, trading your work clothes for flip flops and bathing suits, and recharging your batteries with some much-needed rest and relaxation by the water. That’s, of course, assuming that everything goes exactly as planned for your beach trip.

Since we want to make sure that you make the most of your beach day, we’ve put together a list of eight beach hacks to make sure that you have the best experience possible. So, here’s to no longer getting sand all over your blanket (or phone), fearing that you’ll lose (or soak) your valuables, and forgetting when to reapply your suntan lotion. After all, vacation days at the beach should always be stress-free and fun.

Beach Hack #1: Pack Your Beach Bag The Night Before

There’s nothing worse than getting a late start on your beach day, especially if it’s because you’re running around your house or apartment looking for everything that you need for the beach. So, take some time the night before your beach trip to pack your beach bag.

This is an extremely important beach tip for parents with little kids. That’s because, as you know, everything takes longer once your little ones are up and moving in the morning. By packing the night before, you’ll be able to save crucial time the day of your beach adventure. And who knows, maybe you’ll be one of the first beachgoers to arrive, allowing you to pick any spot on the beach that you want for the day. Then you can mark your territory with your beach umbrella.   

Beach Hack #2: Two Words – Mesh Bag

While you need to bring all of your kids’ beach gear with you whenever you go to the beach, you don’t need to bring all of the sand from the beach home with you, too. One of the ways to solve that problem is to use a mesh bag to carry your kids’ beach toys around in. This way the excess sand will fall out on the beach rather than in your car or later in your house.

Beach Hack #3: Bring A Fitted Sheet With You

Sure, we’re all going to the beach so that we can dig our toes into the sand, but that doesn’t mean that we want our beach blanket or towel to be filled with sand, as well. One way that you can limit the amount of sand that will be blown or kicked onto your beach towel or blanket is by using a fitted sheet instead.

All you have to do is lay a fitted sheet upside down on the sand, put four heavy objects in each of the corners (think the cooler that you brought, a heavy beach bag filled with beach gear, etc.), and then pull the sheet up and taut. This will create four short walls around you, which is also ideal if you have young kids. And for those of you who value comfort, you can lay a yoga mat down inside your fitted sheet to relax on.

Beach Hack #4: Pack Baby Powder For The Beach (Even If You Don’t Have A Baby)

Stepping foot in the sand for the first time is always a treat. Trying to get the sand off of you at the end of your beach day? Not so much fun. However, all you need to do to remove sand from in between your toes, or other areas of your body, is to use some baby powder.

That’s right, just air dry for a little bit after you get out of the water and then apply baby powder to any area of your body where sand is still sticking. The powder works by absorbing excess moisture on your skin, which then makes it easier to brush off the sand. You can also use baby powder in your wet hair to help release any grains of sand that are stuck in your scalp. And if the beach that you go to is known to get buggy from time to time, you might also want to pack some bug spray to bring with you just in case the bugs are out that day.

Beach Hack #5: How To Never Forget To Reapply Suntan Lotion Ever Again

Sunscreen needs to be applied before heading out into the sun and then reapplied every two hours or so. But, let’s be real, when you’re having a blast at the beach, how often are you actually thinking about the last time that you applied sunblock? Usually, not until it’s too late.

So, to avoid sunburn, write the date and times of reapplication on your sunblock bottle with a permanent marker. This way you’ll always know the last time that you applied your sunscreen, as well as when you need to apply it next.

Beach Hack #6: A Safe Way To Protect Your Phone From The Sand

As anyone who has ever kept their cell phone in their beach bag knows, sand will always find a way to end up inside, and pretty much all around your phone. To help protect your phone (and valuables) from sand (and also water), you can place them inside an empty plastic peanut butter jar. Just wash the peanut butter jar out when it’s done, and then put your phone, keys, wallet, or anything else that you don’t want sand to get inside. This particular beach tip is also a great way to reuse a plastic item that you already have in your home. And if the jar is large enough, chances are that it will probably float, as well, which is never a bad thing when you’re at the beach.

Beach Hack #7: The Diaper Trick

Bringing your baby, or little ones that are still in diapers, to the beach? Take advantage of the diaper trick then when it’s time for you to go swimming. That’s right, by placing your valuables in a diaper, and then wrapping the diaper up as if it is dirty, chances are that no one will be walking off with your valuables. Unless, of course, they’re cleaning up the beach and think they’re doing you a favor. Or, if they’ve read this article and now know that the best place to hide valuables are in seemingly dirty diapers. So, while we don’t recommend bringing valuables to the beach in the first place, you can try the diaper trick, but at your own risk.

Beach Hack #8: Add A Cork (Or Another Flotation Device) To Your Keys

If the diaper trick isn’t really up your alley, or if you’re someone who prefers to keep your valuables on you, then make sure that you add a cork or some other type of flotation device to your keys if you plan on taking them into the water with you. While a cork or flotation device won’t necessarily get your keys back to you if the current is strong, at least you’ll stand a fighting chance of finding them again if you notice they’re gone. If there’s no flotation device on your keys and you lose them, then they’re pretty much guaranteed to be lost if you accidentally drop them since they’ll sink to the bottom of the ocean.

So, the next time you’re heading out to the beach, make sure to remember these helpful beach hacks. And have the best time!

Summer solstice celebrations have been taking place for thousands of years. Traditionally, people celebrated the return of light, life, fertility, and the potential for a good harvest on the longest day of the year.

More recently, people have been celebrating the arrival of summer with outdoor feasts, bonfires, and lots of singing and dancing. Some people also use the summer solstice as a way to restart their lives, letting go of what no longer serves them, while opening themselves up to meaningful change. So, whether you’re looking for a reset, or simply some fun ways to celebrate the summer solstice this year, we’ve got you covered.

What Is The Summer Solstice?

A summer solstice is the moment in time when the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at its maximum and the sun reaches its highest position in the sky.

The term ‘solstice’ comes from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still) because the sun will reach its highest point at noon on that day and appear not to move for a short period of time.

Summer solstices aren’t just limited to earth either as all the planets in the solar system have summer solstices.

When Does The June Solstice Take Place This Year?

The summer solstice occurs twice each year, once in June in the Northern Hemisphere and once in December in the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs every year between June 20th and June 22nd.

While the June solstice occurs at the same moment in time all over the world, the date and local time may differ from location to location depending on a location’s time zone. This year, the June solstice, which marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere (and winter in the Southern Hemisphere), will take place on Monday, June 21st at 3:32 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or on Sunday, June 20th at 11:32 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). If you’d like to find the time of the June solstice where you live, you can translate UTC to your time zone. 

Different latitudes also get different amounts of sunlight on the solstice. For example, the longest day of the year at the equator lasts for around 12 hours, while the longest day of the year at the North Pole lasts for 24 hours. In fact, all locations inside the Arctic Circle experience a continuous period of daylight for 24 hours. And if you live in southern Texas you’ll get a little less than 14 hours of daylight, but if you live in Washington or Maine, you’ll get almost 16 hours of daylight. 

11 Ways To Celebrate The June Solstice

Throughout the centuries, the summer solstice has been celebrated with festivals, rituals, and Midsummer celebrations. The summer solstice has also been associated with femininity and fertility, and ancient cultures would celebrate femininity and fertility with feasts and bonfires. So, you can definitely include feasts and bonfires as part of your summer solstice celebration this year. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the different ways that you can celebrate the summer solstice either alone, or with your loved ones, in 2021.

Start Your Day With A Sun Salutation: International Yoga Day falls on the same day as the summer solstice. So, wake up and do a sun salutation, which is a series of yoga poses that provide a great overall body stretch. There are also a number of in-person and/or virtual yoga events that you can take part in, such as Solstice in Times Square, which takes place on Sunday, June 20th this year. This free event is intended to help people find calm once again within the chaos of life in New York City on the summer solstice. Both experienced yogis and first-timers can take part in one of seven socially-distanced, limited capacity classes in-person, or join the class virtually by livestreaming one of the sessions throughout the day.

Use The Solstice As A Restart: If things haven’t been going quite the way that you’ve wanted of late, use the solstice as a way to wipe your slate clean and give yourself a fresh start. Write down any behaviors or experiences that you want to put behind you on a piece of paper and then bury that paper (or burn it).

Set New Goals And Intentions: After you bury (or burn) the stuff that you want to leave behind, it’s time to set some new goals and intentions for yourself. So, think of some news goals, as well as the ways that you’ll be able to accomplish those goals. Then write down some intentions, or things, ideas, or habits that you’d like to bring into your life. You can also write affirmations, which you can then say every day in order to help you achieve your new goals. As you work toward becoming the best version of yourself, remember to be kind to yourself along the way. The journey is about progress, not perfection.

Create A Summer Thrill List With Your Family: Life is more fun when we have adventures to look forward to, right? So, take some time to develop a summer thrill list (or bucket list) with your family on the first day of summer. This will make summer more exciting not just for you, but also your entire family. And, of course, make sure that everyone in your family is given an opportunity to add something to the thrill list.

Build (Or Attend) A Bonfire: Building (or attending) a bonfire is a recurring feature in almost all summer solstice celebrations. That’s because it’s believed that the fire deters evil spirits who roam freely as the sun turns south. Jumping over the bonfire (which we do not recommend) is a popular tradition in places like Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Spain. Estonians also believe that not lighting a fire invites fire into the home, causing devastation. And in the United States, an annual Midsummer solstice celebration is held on Casper Mountain in Wyoming. The majority of the community, and even some people from around the world, attend this event to partake in the bonfire. Then during the bonfire, people are invited to throw a handful of red soil into the fire in hopes that they will get their wish fulfilled. You can also build your own solstice bonfire and invite your nearest and dearest over to celebrate the solstice with you. Then you can sing, play music, and dance around your huge bonfire, and roast marshmallows, too.

Make A Flower Crown: In Finnish folklore, there’s a story about a young woman who collected seven flowers under her pillow on Midsummer night, which resulted in her future fiancé showing up in her dreams. Today, women pick flowers and craft their own flower crowns, wearing them throughout the Midsummer celebration. To make your own flower crown, you’ll need floral wire, floral tape, wire cutters, greenery/foliage, and flowers of your choice. 

Start A Garden (Or Add To Your Existing Garden): Since the summer solstice is traditionally a time to celebrate the potential for a good harvest, why not take advantage of the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and finally start that garden that you’ve been planning on bringing to life in your backyard? If you already have a garden, plant some new flowers, vegetables, or fruits.  

Throw A Summer Solstice Party: Instead of just enjoying the solstice on your own, or only with your immediate family, throw a summer solstice party. This will allow you and your family to spend some quality time outdoors with the people you love most on the planet. After all, what’s better than good company and good food? Not much.

Visit Stonehenge (Or Watch The Live Stream): Ancient cultures knew that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight, and the location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year. In fact, it’s believed that they built monuments like Stonehenge in England to follow the sun’s yearly progress. Now, tourists go to the ancient site, which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, to witness the sunrise right through the center stone during the summer solstice. If you won’t be able to make it to Stonehenge this year, you can still join in on the festivities thanks to a live stream, which will allow you to see the sunset and sunrise at Stonehenge from the comfort of your own home.

Watch (Or Play) Midnight Sports: Since 1906, the summer solstice has been celebrated in Alaska with a midnight baseball game that starts at 10:30 p.m. and goes into the next morning. And in Iceland, there are some people who play a round of golf at midnight.

Reset Your Body Clock: Midsummer is a great time to focus on improving your health and happiness by getting better sleep in the summer. Since light is the number one factor in regulating your body clock, make sure to get some sunshine while you can during the day, and also do your best to keep light out when it’s time for you to go to bed. Making use of the extra hours of sunlight during Midsummer is an excellent way to get started with your new sleep schedule.

On December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. The proposal was first introduced by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and was endorsed by a record 175 member states. In his address to the General Assembly, Prime Minister Modi said, “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action… a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature.” Since then, International Yoga Day has been celebrated every year on June 21st as a way to raise awareness about yoga, and the many benefits that the practice has to offer.

The first International Yoga Day celebration took place on June 21, 2015 with nearly 36,000 people, including Prime Minister Modi and many other high-profile political figures from all over the world, performing 21 asanas (yoga postures) for 35 minutes in New Delhi. This Yoga Day celebration set two world records – one for being the world’s largest yoga session (with 35,985 people), and the other for having the most number of nationalities (84) participating in it. The first record was eventually broken three years later on June 21, 2018 when over 100,000 participants took a yoga lesson in India.

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. Deriving from Sanskrit, the word ‘yoga’ means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being.

The overall philosophy of yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit. There are many different types and styles of yoga, including Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, Hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, Kripalu yoga, Kundalini yoga, Power yoga, Yin yoga, Prenatal yoga, and Restorative yoga. Some benefits that yoga has to offer are increased flexibility and fitness, mindfulness, and relaxation.

International Yoga Day Theme For 2021: ‘Yoga For Well-Being’

The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is ‘Yoga For Well-Being,’ focusing on how the practice of yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual.

Last year’s theme was ‘Yoga For Health – Yoga At Home,” which took into account the social distancing measures announced by most countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yoga By The Numbers

• About 36 million Americans practice yoga, with 89% of US yogis practicing for one to five hours per day on average.

• The number of US yogis increased by over 50% in four years.

• At any given time, more than 60 million posts about yoga are trending on social media.

• Women account for 72% of yoga practitioners.

•  59% of yoga practitioners in the US believe that yoga helps them sleep better.

5 Ways To Celebrate International Yoga Day 2021

Take Part In The International Day of Yoga Virtual Event: To celebrate the 7th Annual International Day of Yoga on June 21st, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations will be hosting an online celebration that will be broadcast live on UN WebTV from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST. The event will feature demonstrations of yoga exercises (asanas) to improve physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. There will also be an interactive panel discussion on ‘Yoga For Well-Being.’

Attend An Online (Or In-Person) Yoga Class: If you’ve never tried yoga before, get out of your comfort zone and take a free online yoga class on International Yoga Day. If you’d rather take a class in person, see if any yoga studios near you are offering introductory yoga classes on International Yoga Day.

Treat Yourself To A New Yoga Mat: If you’re a yoga enthusiast who has been practicing yoga for a while, treat yourself to a new mat on International Yoga Day this year. That’s because old, worn-out mats can affect how you practice, and even your health.

Do Yoga At Work: June 21st happens to fall on a Monday this year. So, if you’re unable to take an online yoga class or get to your favorite yoga studio on International Yoga Day due to work obligations, break up your work day and keep yourself centered by doing a few yoga poses at your desk.

Introduce A Friend To Yoga: Do you have a friend who has been asking you about yoga for a while, but your friend still hasn’t tried it? If that’s the case, use International Yoga Day as a way to introduce your friend to yoga. You can either recommend yoga studios or online classes to your friend, or maybe you can even do a yoga session together on International Yoga Day.