Scholarly discourse on how to advance holistic well-being via yoga, allied disciples

Yoga, an ancient practice originating from India, has garnered global recognition for its multifaceted benefits encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. In light of its growing relevance in contemporary society, Apeejay Stya University (ASU) in Gurugram recently hosted the National Conference on Research in Yogic and Allied Disciplines in hybrid mode. 

Organised by the School of Education at ASU and sponsored by the Inter-University Centre for Yogic Sciences (IUCYS), Bengaluru, the Conference served as a pivotal platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to delve into the nuances of yoga research and its implications for individual and societal health. 

Ceremonial Inauguration

The two-day National Conference commenced with a solemn ceremony, featuring the traditional lighting of the lamp followed by a recitation of Saraswati Vandana by Riya Sharma, an Apeejay  student, to invoke blessings from Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom

This was followed by a video tribute to Dr. Stya Paul, Founder-Chairman of Apeejay Education, featuring his visionary leadership and enduring legacy in education. 

Following this, Dr. Vijay Vir Singh, Vice Chancellor of ASU, welcomed all the guests, delegates and staff members. In his welcome speech, he  emphasised the importance of yoga in students’ lives. Subsequently, Dr Anand Padhan, Professor & Head at the School of Education, ASU, presented an overview of the conference while describing yoga as “a philosophy and practice that helps individuals to better understand themselves.” 

Further, the delegates released a souvenir that contains the extracts of research papers.

The two-day National Conference was also graced by Prof. Sudeep Kumar Jain, Head in the Department of Prakrit, Faculty of Sahitya & Sanskriti, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rastriya Sanskrit University. An eminent research scientist, Prof. Sudeep Kumar Jain in his keynote address touched upon the in-depth meaning of yoga and its physical, psychological and health benefits. He further highlighted the importance of different types of research in yoga.

The Chief Guest for the inaugural ceremony was Prof. (Dr.) D.P. Singh, Former Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC). 

A warm welcome was extended to Prof. D.P. Singh by honouring him with a portrait of his own, drawn by Mr. Abinash Patra, a student from Apeejay’s School of Design & Visual Arts. Prof. Singh expressed his delight at being present at such a magnificent event, and highlighted how yoga has been given importance in the NEP 2020. He also suggested expansion of research and opening of courses in the field of yoga. Dr. Singh mentioned, “It’s important to integrate yoga into the curriculum as a means to foster holistic well-being and personal development.”

Delighted to express her thoughts, Dr. Renu Batra, Advisor to Higher Education in Apeejay, offered a personal perspective on her journey with yoga, sharing reflections from her spiritual path and the lessons learned along the way. She underscored the transformative power of yoga in promoting self-awareness, inner peace, and spiritual growth. Dr. Batra encouraged attendees to embark on their own yoga journey, emphasising the importance of patience, introspection, and self-discovery in the pursuit of holistic well-being.

Cultural presentations 

The conference also featured a vibrant cultural programme, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions associated with yoga. Performances ranged from poetry recitations to yoga demonstrations, offering attendees a glimpse into the profound spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of yoga practice. Students from various disciplines presented their research projects, exploring diverse topics such as the therapeutic applications of yoga, the cultural significance of yogic rituals, and the integration of yoga into educational curricula. Their presentations underscored the interdisciplinary nature of yoga research and its potential to contribute to various fields, including healthcare, education, and cultural studies.

Discussions and deliberations

The first plenary session in the conference featured three speakers including Dr. Vikram Singh, Dy. Director of Sports and Yoga, JNU, New Delhi; Dr. Madan Manav, Founder Director of Global Institute for Blissful Life Instructions, Services and Security (GI-Bliss); and Dr. Navdeep Joshi, Department of Yoga Sciences, Lal Bahadur Shastry Rashtriya Sanskrit University, New Delhi. The session was moderated by Prof. Sudip Kumar Jain with questions and answers from the audience. The first day afternoon was devoted to two technical sessions with paper presentations by the delegates, chaired by Dr. Manav Manav and Dr. Navdeep Joshi.

The 2nd day of the conference started with another plenary session attended by five expert speakers viz. Dr. Jagwanti Deswal, Professor of Yoga, Maharshi Dayanad University, Rohtak; Dr. Sadhna Dauneria, Professor & Head, Department of Yoga, Barkatulah University, Bhopal (joined online); Dr. Ajay Pal, Head, Department of Yoga, Central University of Haryana, Mahendrgarh, and Dr. Arpit Kumar Dey, Head, Department of Yoga Philosophy, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi; and Mr. Bhudev, Yoga coach and scholar, Haryana Yoga Ayog. The session was chaired by Prof. Syed Tariq Murtaza, Professor, Department of Physical Education, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

The technical session on day 2 was chaired by Dr. Ajay Pal and Dr. Arpit Kumar Dey with paper presentations by the delegates. The coordinator and rapporteur for the plenary and technical sessions was Dr. Shraddha Agarwal, Assistant Professor in Management Science.

Final Round

The valedictory session began with a welcome note by Dr. Neha Thakur, Assistant Professor in School of Management Sciences and spectacular Odishi dance performance by Ms. Aditi from the School of Design. 

An overview of conference proceedings was presented by Dr. Ananda Padhan, the convenor of the conference, wherein he mentioned that there were about 90 plus online and offline registrations and all the invited 10 plenary speakers had participated in the conference (only 1 in online mode). 

The Chief Guest for the session Prof. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, former Director, Morarji National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush, New Delhi who delivered an enriched address emphasising on the importance of yoga on concentration, memory and emotional intelligence. 

At the end of the conference, a vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Vijay Kumar, Organising Secretary of the conference from the School of Education. The programme ended with the singing of the National Anthem.