Indo-US Yoga Chikitsa Symposium and Workshop: A Report

School of Yoga Therapy, Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV), Pondicherry organised and conducted the three day “Indo-US Yoga Chikitsa Symposium and Workshop”, in collaboration with the Loyola Marymount University (LMU), USA; SVYASA Yoga University, ICYER at Ananda Ashram and the Indian Yoga Association (Pondicherry Chapter) from 13th to 15th of December 2023.

The first day’s program was organised at the ISCM of SBV. The team from LMU were given a warm welcome and were taken on a tour around Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute after which they went over to ISCM to participate in the day’s events.

The symposium started with an inaugural program chaired by Honourable Vice Chancellor of SBV, Prof Nihar Ranjan Biswas and Dean Academics, Prof Ashok Kumar Das. The Registrar of SBV Prof A R Srinivasan, Clinical Director of Yoga Therapy, LMU Dr. Lori Rubenstein Fazzio, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology LMU Dr Deanna Cooke were felicitated the occasion.

The first session was rendered by Director ISCM, Prof Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani on “Yogachikitsa and Salutogenesis: How does it work” and this was followed by Dr. Lori Fazzio on the topic of “Yoga therapy in modern times”. Both the interactive sessions were well received.

The afternoon session brought together another round of eminent speakers, Prof K R Sethuraman, Prof Emeritus AIMST University & Endowed Chair- Health Professions Education, IHPE, SBV (who emphasized the importance of Salutogenesis, Ikigai and their role in wholistic healing), Prof Ashok Kumar Das (who highlighted about the mind-body medicine), Prof Meena Ramanathan, Vice-Principal of SYT, Prof Sobana R, Administrative I/C of SMT, and Prof Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani in an open forum on “Yogachikitsa as Mind-Body Medicine”.

The program of the next two days were shifted to ICYER @ Ananda Ashram to enable the international participants get an opportunity of the traditional Guru Kula environment as well as the teachings. The days started with Hatha Yoga practice sessions with Yogacharini Devasena Bhavanani, General Secretary of ICYER and YOGNAT on the roof top in a natural environment along with a beautiful sunrise. She along with Ms Dhivya Priya Bhavanani, Deputy Director of YOGNAT ended the days’ sessions with energising Bhajans which the participants enjoyed well.

Prof Jayaraman Mahadevan was an invited Resource Person from SVYASA Yoga University and he stressed the importance of bridging the teachings from the traditional texts and their commentaries in understanding the various Yogic techniques in their proper connotation. He also highlighted the concept of Adi-Vyadhi — the afflictions of the mind and body respectively, from the classical text Yoga Vashishta. Prof Ananda Balayogi, the Chairman of ICYER led the excellent and informative sessions on the concept of Salutogenesis and how it promotes wholistic healing in an individual. He also explained about how the effects that are somato-psychic are translated into benefits which are psycho-somatic in nature. On the second day Dr Ananda threw light upon the traditional 12-point diagnostic tools devised by Swami Gitananda and emphasised its importance in the modern health care scenario.

The post lunch session included an experiential session on “Understanding Yoga Therapy: Practices & Findings” emphasising on the review of findings from SYT, ISCM of SBV led by Prof Meena Ramanathan, the Vice Principal of SYT, ISCM. She discussed about various qualitative & quantitative research studies & evidences for application of Yoga as a preventive, promotive, rehabilitative & curative therapy and how role of Yoga Therapy (YT) is being investigated as an adjuvant to standard medical care in different medical conditions. The Yogic techniques taught by Swami Gitananda used in these studies were practiced with zeal and zest. Dr Meena also made them do a few practices which have been copyrighted by ISCM on Divyanga Yoga and how these sound-based yogic practices are taught Making Yoga Fun for Special Children (MYFSC). Excellent demonstration by Ms Dhivya Priya (Dep Director, YOGNAT) and Mr Anandraj (Junior Chairman of ICYER) and enthusiastically reciprocated by the participants.

Smt Lalitha Shanmugam, one of the senior Yoga teachers of the Gitananda tradition threw light on how these traditional practices are being taught to children over the past few decades at the City Centre of Yoganjali Natyalayam. She along with her husband Sri C Shanmugam also take care of the individual one-on-one Yoga therapy sessions at YOGNAT. Dr Balaji, Sri Dayanidy and Dr Vasundhara highlighted on their respective PhD thesis work, methodologies and their findings in Yoga as an adjuvant therapy in Metabolic Syndrome, Psoriasis and sleep deprivation in pregnant women respectively. They along with PhD Scholars of ISCM Sri Nilachal and Ms Anjali Rai, made up a wonderful TEAM- coordinated the successful conduct of the Symposium and Workshop.

On the final day everyone joined the Sunday Guru Puja at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam where they experienced the traditional rituals done in honour of the Rishiculture Guru Parampara. This spiritual ceremony left a deep imprint in their hearts as they felt connected to one of the rare “Living Traditions of Yoga’ in the modern world. Yogacharini Devasena presented an amazing Natyam performance well appreciated by all. The present Madathipathi of the Madam Dr Anandaji was assisted by Master Anandraj Bhavanani who serves as the Junior Madathipathi. Arrangements were coordinated by Yogathilakam Shri E Gajendiran, Sri Selvakumaran and other devotees of the Parampara.

The highlight of the two day event at ICYER was the presence of respected Ammaji Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani along with Prof Madanmohan, (Emeritus Prof in Physiology), Hon Advisor , ISCM and our beloved mentor having more than 5 decades of experience each in teaching Yoga. Both were honoured in the presence of the international participants from LMU and others as both had been honoured with the recognition of “Yoga Chikitsa Ratna” by the Indian Yoga Association during the International Yoga Summit at Haridwar. The event ended with a valedictory during which presents and certificates were distributed to all participants. Dr Lori Rubenstein Fazzio and Dr Deanne Cooke were honoured specially for having led the LMU team to India and coordinating the activities.