Time to bust out that foam matt and slip into some unflattering lycra…

Next week will see thousands of Dubai residents limbering up for the 3rd annual International Yoga Day.

While the United Nations officially declared 21 June as the international day of Yoga back in 2014, this year’s celebrations in the UAE will be taking place a day earlier on Tuesday 20 June due to the holy night of Lailat-ul-Qadr falling on the 21st.

Organised by the Indian Consulate in Dubai in conjunction with several local schools and yoga associations, events will be held across multiple venues throughout the UAE rather than one central location as in previous years.

Speaking at a press conference in Dubai on Sunday the Indian Consul General, Vipul, noted, “We thought that it will not suffice if we organise it only at these places. So we have involved other community organisations, associations and schools so that people can go to the nearest venue in Dubai or Northern Emirates to participate in the events.”

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A number of the city’s premiere yoga hotspots will also be holding special classes in celebration of International Yoga Day including free guided meditation sessions at the Zoga Yoga Cafe in Downtown Dubai on the 20th, a free yoga class for all newcomers at Zen Yoga in Media City on the 21st, and a full day of free yoga and stretching classes courtesy of lululemon at the 136.1 Yoga Studio in Dubai Marina, also on the 21st.

The main venues where official International Yoga Day events will be held in Dubai are Burj Park, Zabeel Park and the Burhani Complex in Al Nahda.

For more information and to register to take part visit the official International Yoga Day website.

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Image: Getty