Against the backdrop of the rising global threat to the age-old science of Yoga, the eminent yoga gurus have come together on one platform. A meeting of the advisory board of the Indian Yoga Association was held at Gayatri Teerth, Shantikunj in Haridwar on Wednesday. Among various other initiatives, the advisory board discussed plans to hold regular international yoga festivals with emphasis on scientific research on Yoga.
A meeting by yoga exponents, including Yoga guru Ramdev, Dr Pranav Pandya and Sri Sri Ravishankar along with Dr H R Nagendra of VKYOGAS based in Bengaluru and other Acharyas was held in course of which Swami Ramdev was selected as the president of Indian Yoga Association to carry forward the agenda as discussed during the meeting. Briefing the media after the meeting was over, Dr Pranav Pandya said that an agreement has been reached to establish Yoga Association in every State to promote this ancient heritage developed by the saints and seers.
He further said, “The yoga tradition of India might have gained acceptance all over the world but it is unfortunate that the world has twisted its original form presenting it in myriad forms. Many countries have changed the form of yoga and propagated it under different names of Hot yoga, laughing yoga and European yoga. This has raised a matter of concern for Indian yoga exponents and in an attempt to Indianise the Indian yoga and establish single authority of India on it, we have come on a bigger platform.”
Swami Ramdev said, “To bring uniformity and enhance its global acceptance, a movement would be initiated. At a bigger level, plans would be framed to make yoga teachers and trainers. Yoga would be popularized.”
Sri Sri Ravishankar said that there was need to take comprehensive yoga to school and college curricula. The roadmap would be made before the International Yoga Day slated on 21 June this year.
Issues like yoga awards, guidelines and Visa for foreign students and uniformity in Yoga educational programmes were also discussed in course of the meeting.