Bill Text: HI SB2583 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To International Yoga Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-23 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) C. Lee, Lowen, McDermott, Souki, Tokioka excused (5). [SB2583 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2583-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2583 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that yoga is a long standing aspect of Indian civilization and gift to humanity. According to the Yoga Sutras 1.2, "yogas citta vrtti nirodhah," which is translated as "yoga is the focused tranquility of the mind." Its practice emphasizes moral, physical, and mental well-being resulting in physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Yoga is not just physical exercise; it is a spiritual path to control the mind and senses and to know one's higher self and purpose in life, and it encourages living in harmony with society and nature. Yoga is a way of life and can promote health and well-being and insight into addressing environmental concerns and facilitating world peace. More than 250,000,000 people around the world practice some form of yoga.
According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study, which queried 2,000 members of the general population and 1,700 yoga practitioners in the United States, 36,700,000 people in the United States practice yoga, seventy-four per cent of whom have been practicing for five years or less, which demonstrates the relative newness of the interest in yoga. The study revealed that yoga practitioners are drawn to yoga for a variety of reasons, including flexibility, stress relief, general fitness, overall health, and physical fitness. Additionally, yoga provides an economic benefit; Americans spent $16,000,000,000 on yoga instruction, gear, and accessories, including $5,800,000,000 on yoga classes and $4,600,000,000 on clothes to engage in yoga. The study also found that about thirty-seven per cent of yoga practitioners are under the age of eighteen.
The legislature further finds that the United Nations adopted a resolution on December 11, 2014, proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. One hundred seventy-five countries cosponsored the resolution. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014, on the adoption of International Yoga Day, stating, "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature." The legislature finds that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being, and wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing yoga would be beneficial for the health of Hawaii's population. The practice of yoga is beneficial to the people of Hawaii, including children, as it lowers stress, reduces health problems and health insurance costs, and promotes healthy living among adults and the elderly population.
The purpose of this Act is to establish June 21 of each year as International Yoga Day to promote the practice of yoga to increase the health and well-being of the people of Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Chapter 8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§8- International Yoga Day. In view of the importance of yoga, June 21 of each year shall be known and designated as "International Yoga Day"; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
International Yoga Day
Description:
Designates June 21 of each year as International Yoga Day. (SB2583 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
