Bengaluru: With the goal of ideating, deliberating and deepening the role of scientific research in yoga, sustainable development of yoga and yoga policies on how the knowledge of ancient system of wellness that is yoga is shared systematically throughout India and globally, The Art of Living hosted the Indian Yoga Association second National Conclave on Yogic Policies and Research at the Art of Living International Center from February 24-26, 2024.
The conclave witnessed participation of yoga councils from 25 states in India, along with renowned scholars, researchers and practitioners from the field of yoga.
"Yoga has been around for centuries but the time has come for its scientific interpretation to reach everywhere," said global humanitarian and spiritual master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is also Chairperson, IYA. "We need to maintain the purity of the essence of our yogic traditions. (Hammari yog parampra ka mool roop shuddh rakhna. Akshunn rakhna.")
Gurudev shared it was important to have the three C's in life- a larger Context to life, so the small mind does not bother one; Compassion for oneself and others and; Commitment in life- all thee of which can come with yoga in life.
Indian Yog Association is the idea of unity in diversity which was formed in the year 2006 and thereafter has been on a journey of connecting, collecting and getting together the various rich, diverse cultural heritage, lineage and traditions of yog throughout India and the world.
Maa Hansa, President of the Indian Yoga association and Author, Researcher & Director of one of the oldest yoga schools- The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai shared about 3 H, "Work Hard. We have to keep our own balance; second H is Head or mind has to be ok. You should see everything positively and third H is the heart which should go along with the hand and head. Person should live holistically."
While Acharya Lokesh Muni spoke about how world peace is impossible without mental peace whose key lies in yoga; Dr. Basawareddy shared about India's glorious culture of yoga which gives the knowledge about thr body, mind and how to unite these which ultimately unites everything in nature.
The other dignitaries present at the opening of the conclave included
1. Padmashri Dr HR Nagendra ji, Governing Council Member of IYA, Yoga Guru, academic, writer and the founder vice chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), a deemed university located in Bengaluru;
2. Dr Basava Reddy former Director of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, since June 2005;
3. Archarya Lokesh Muni, founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti; Swami Atmapriyanand ji, Senior Vice President of IYA and Pro-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational & Research Institute;
4. Shri Subodh Tiwari ji, CEO ,Kaivalyadham, Secretary General of the Indian Yoga Association, also Member of Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Member of Governing Council for Inter- University Centre for Yogic Science UGC, Member of the Governing Council of the NCTE, Chairman of the Sub Group of Yoga CII. Member of the High-Level Task Force on Yoga Research by CCRYN;
5. Maa Hansa, President of the Indian Yoga association and Author, Researcher & Director of one of the oldest yoga schools- The Yoga Institute, Santacruz;
6. Dr Anand Balyogi ji , Joint Secretary, IYA, Yogacharya and Director of the Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) and Professor of Yoga Therapy at the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry;
7. Dr. S P Mishra, CEO, PrCB at IYA and the founder Vice-Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar;
8. Dr. Manjunath N K is the Director, Redearch Committee at IYA. He is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor & the Director of Research at S-VYASA University;
9. Smt Kamlesh Barwal, A yogini who has been impartimg the knowledge of yoga within India and across borders over the last 20 years.
The event will also signing of 3 MOUs in research.
1) MOU between Sri Sri Insitute for Advanced Research, Art of Living Research Wing and Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Deemed to be University, Puducherry.
The MOU will explore research in Yoga, Meditation, music and chanting as a Therapy in clinical setting. Through this MOU students can complete their projects work at SSIAR while pursuing their MS and PhD through SBV.
2) MOU signed between Sri Sri School of Yoga known for its offering of Yoga in its purity of ancient tradition with technical skill and pragmatic scientific approach, Sri Sri Insitute for Advanced Research, Art of Living Research Wing and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
The MOU will explore creating gold standards in Yoga usimg digital technologies.
3) An MOU between Tata Consultancy Services and Indian Yoga Association.The aim here is to collaborate on various topics of interest between IYA member institutions and TCS.
