The second Governing Council Indian Yoga Association meeting was held at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore hosted by Pujya Sadguru Jaggi Vasudevji. The location was at the foothills of the picturesque Velliangiri Mountain range, on the outskirts of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
The high level meetings brought together Pujya Swami Ramdevji, Chairman, IYA, Dr HR Nagendraji, President, IYA. Governing Councils Esteemed Members Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President, Parmarth Niketan, Dr OP Tiwari, Secretary General of the Kaivalyadhama Institute, Dr Hansa Jayadevaji, Director of the Yoga Institute, Mumbai, Dr Ishwar Basavaraddi, Director of Morariji Desai Yoga Institute and Secretary General, IYA Kamlesh Barwal, Director of Sri Sri School of Yoga and Vice President of IYA, Shri Subodh Tiwari.
Pujya Sri Sri Ravishankar, Founder, Art of Living and Respected Kamlesh Patelji (Daaji), Founder of Heartfulness Meditation also joined the meeting via video conference.
The meet brought together heads of various institutions and organizations that are actively promoting the spread of Yoga as a non-religious and scientific tool to enhance human wellbeing. The second meeting of the IYA governing council explored ways and means to disseminate Yoga to larger groups by creating the right infrastructure that can help transmit the practices without dilution. The role of institutional partnerships, government support and promotion of Yoga as a sport were also discussed.
The meetings concluded on a high note that included thoughts from all leaders how to spread and share Yoga with all, ensure Yoga continues to go global, touching and transforming lives.
The council members who reached a day ahead of the meeting visited the gorgeous Adiyogi, Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple and Linga Bhairavi at the Isha Yoga Center.
Organizations such as Patanjali International Yoga Foundation, Art of Living Foundation, Isha Foundation, The Yoga Institute, Parmarth Niketan among others, offer classical Yoga courses that are practiced by millions around the world. United Nations has declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga which is observed globally by over 175 countries. Several mainstream medical practitioners have acknowledged the efficacy of using Yoga as supportive therapy to manage medical conditions.
The Governing Council meeting was followed by Yoga Certification Board meeting with Joint Secretary of AYUSH, Joint Secretary of Sports Ministry, Regional Director of Ministry of Tourism, Director of Fit India and many others participated to gain insights from the Yoga Experts on promoting Yoga within India and across the world.