International Conference on Yoga for Body Concludes

The two day 'International Conference on Yoga for Body and Beyond' came to a successful close in New Delhi. The conference was organised by the Ministry of AYUSH as a part of International Day of Yoga celebrations.

The International Conference was held to deliberate upon the benefits of yoga to the individual, community, the society and the world at large. It was attended by Yoga experts from India and more than 80 international delegates from 35 countries.

The countries that participated in the Conference included Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, Malaysia, Spain, Russia, Portugal, Australia, Belgium, China, Egypt, Iceland, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, Kenya, Slovenia, Uzbekistan, UAE among others.

Sumitra Mahajan at valedictory session:

Lok Sabha Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan spoke at the valedictory session and said that India has always believed in conquering the hearts of people, not by invasion, but by its culture and traditions. India has won the hearts of the world by giving it something extra ordinary like Yoga, she explained.

She said that it is a great achievement that by Celebrating the International Day of Yoga, the people have decided to create a healthy world. She said that the whole theory of Yoga is to go beyond the mind.

She also said that Yoga has several aspects, while some people look it as a part of medical science others consider it as a form of meditation and for yet others, it's a source of peace and joy.

The Lok Sabha Speaker further that today the humanity is faced with several challenges like terrorism, extremism, consumerism and climate change. These challenges can be met if we adopt Yoga in our lives since Yoga teaches us to live in harmony with nature and to lead a balanced life.

"It is our great achievement that with the Declaration of International Day of Yoga by the United Nations, we have been successful in popularising yoga all over the world, the usefulness of yoga is universal and the whole world has accepted it eagerly", she added.

Shripad Yesso Naik at the valedictory session:

Addressing the valedictory session, the Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik expressed his happiness that the level of participation in the International Conference has remarkably increased from India and abroad this year.

"The way the world is accepting Yoga, I am sure in the days to come the world will further recognise Yoga as a vital contribution of India to rid the mankind of disease and promote peace and tranquility amongst the various nationalities and a healthy world" the Minister said.

He explained that the focus of yoga is basically to change the lifestyle so that the lifestyle related disorders are easily prevented and managed. Yoga is a suitable way to overcome the problem of non-communicable diseases which is becoming more problematic than epidemic outbursts of earlier times.

The AYUSH Minister explained that several efforts have been made by the Government to promote Yoga including efforts to include Yoga training in the Military and Para-Military forces and developing a separate central sector scheme for Yoga Training for Police personnel.

He further elaborated that the new recruits of Civil Services will now do Yoga as a part of their training programme. The primary theme of 2nd International Day of Yoga is to connect with the Youth and to inculcate the habit of Yoga at a young age.

So, NCERT has prepared syllabi on Yoga for the class sixth to eighth and ninth to tenth standards and circulated to all the State Governments and School Boards, the AYUSH Minister added.

He also highlighted some of the other major steps taken by the Government. "One of the commendable steps in this direction is that Ministry of AYUSH has set up an effective mechanism in place by launching the Schemes for Certification and Accreditation of Yoga Professionals and Yoga Schools with the help of Quality Council of India (QCI). It's more heartening to know that the Schemes are getting international recognition."

Certificates presented:

During the valedictory session, Sumitra Mahajan also presented Certificates to representatives of the First certified Yoga School in India, First Personnel Certification Body and certified Yoga Professionals from Japan under the Scheme launched by Ministry of AYUSH and managed by Quality Council of India for Yoga Professionals and Yoga Schools.

A film 'Yoga at Antarctica' produced by DRDO was also screened at the valedictory session. There were 8 technical sessions on Yoga and Physical Wellbeing, three sessions on Insights from Yoga Scholars, Integration of Yoga in Healthcare Delivery System, Yoga for Mental Health, Yoga for Body and Beyond and a Panel Discussion on the subject. There was also a session on open-ended experience sharing by foreign delegates.