Manipal, 22^nd June 2022: Manipal Academy of Higher Education celebrated International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2022. The Division of Yoga, Centre for Integrative Medicine & Research (CIMR), and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) coordinated the event.

The day began with a 1-hour Yoga Session held Dr. TMA Pai Hall, KMC, Manipal. This session was headed by Dr. Annapoorna K. HOD, Division of Yoga, CIMR, MAHE, and received enthusiastic participation from students, staff, faculty, and people from nearby localities.

After the Yoga session, the audience gathered for the second part of the celebration of the International Day of Yoga. The dignitaries present from MAHE included Dr. H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, Dr. M Venkatraya Prabhu, Pro Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Narayana Sabhahit, Registrar, and Dr. Sharath Kumar Rao, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal along with other MAHE officials.

The event highlighted the importance of the practice of Yoga and the various activities held by MAHE. The Division of Yoga at MAHE provides Yoga Training Programs, Yoga Therapy for patients, Postgraduate in M.Sc. Yoga Therapy & Certificate courses for students. In the view of International Day of Yoga, they have conducted several activities and competitions over a period of three months, to bring about awareness about the knowledge and practice of Yoga. They also held a 2-week Summer Yoga Camp for children and organized free Yoga classes for staff and students for 10 days. The Division of Yoga also organized a webinar on “Yoga as a Therapy: Its Dimensions and Relevance” by Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, Director, Morarji Desai National   Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi.

The programme included the distribution of prizes to the winners of the competitions (Asana, essay, poster, photo).  Dr. Nalini Bhaskaranand, Professor & HOD (rtd), KMC, Manipal, and Dr. Anice George, Professor, Manipal Nursing College, Manipal, who were the guests at the event were felicitated. It also included a demonstration of the formations of yoga postures by M.Sc. Yoga Therapy students from the Division of Yoga.

In his presidential address Dr H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE said “The practice of Yoga has the ability to improve our quality of life. It helps in preventing several lifestyle disorders and helps one to remain healthy and happy. At MAHE we encourage the future generation to inculcate the science of Yoga into their daily lives”

Speaking at the event Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor said “The practice of Yoga is believed to have started with the very dawn of civilization. The science of yoga has its origin thousands of years ago and it continues to be relevant to this day. In this modern era, stress and unhealthy living habits have become quite common. Yoga is the perfect cure to deal with all these issues and stay healthy. We are extremely pleased that our Yoga Day event has received such enthusiastic participation from everyone and MAHE will continue to raise awareness about this wonderful practice”