More than 3,000 attendees practice yoga in Wuxi Studios on June 19. [Photo from wxrb.com]

More than 3,000 attendees practiced yoga in Wuxi Studios on June 19 as the 2nd International Yoga Day approached, reported the Wuxi Daily.

The number of attendees in Wuxi this year tripled over last year's event beside Lihu Lake.

The Consulate General of India in Shanghai also invited an Indian yoga master to guide practitioners.

It was reported that India will hold mass yoga events in South China cities, including Shanghai, Wuxi, Zhenjiang, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Shaoxing, Yangzhou, Yiwu and Taizhou, to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21.

The idea of an International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, on Sep 27, 2014. He suggested the date of June 21, as it is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.