Obamas include yoga at first Easter Egg Roll event

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama played host to thousands of children at the White House for the first Easter Egg Roll of his administration which interestingly also featured yoga.

The Easter Egg Roll, an event with a 131-year tradition, held on Monday, was the largest-ever. It revolved around the traditional race that has children pushing decorated eggs across an expanse of White House lawn using large cooking spoons.

It was the day when thousands of people get the chance to stand on the White House grounds, as Obama noted: "This is one of the greatest White House traditions because it reminds us that this is the people's house."

"Our goal today is just to have fun," Michelle Obama told the crowd.

"We want to focus on activity, healthy eating," she said. "We've got yoga, we've got dancing, we've got storytelling, we've got Easter egg decorating.... And we want everybody to think about moving their bodies," she said.

The Obamas' daughters, Malia and Sasha, also took part mixing with other children.

The event is rooted in Washington's oldest rivalry. In 1878, President Rutherford B Hayes, flouting Congress, allowed children on the White House lawn to roll eggs after lawmakers passed a bill forbidding youngsters from playing on the Capitol lawn, which they had trashed in years past.