VICTORIA — The politics of yoga has prompted British Columbia's premier to drop out of a mass yoga session on a downtown Vancouver bridge that will be closed for the event.
Christy Clark says in a tweet that she will not participate in the on June 21 and that yoga is about celebrating peace and harmony, not politics.
Clark has been criticized for announcing the closure of the Burrard Street Bridge to celebrate International Yoga Day.
Yoga Day is a great opportunity to celebrate peace and harmony - it's not about politics. I don't intend to participate.
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) June 12, 2015
Her plan even drew the ire of children's author Raffi, while others say Clark should be focusing on aboriginal issues because June 21 is also national Aboriginal Day.
Clark has said that Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide by millions of people and it is sanctioned by the United Nations.
Hey Yoga Haters- bet you can't wait for international Tai Chi day. pic.twitter.com/1sEfIwKbG3
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) June 11, 2015
Vancouver-based yogawear company Lululemon also announced Friday that it pull out as one of sponsors of the event.