Practice of the Month
Kaivalyadhama celebrates Yogotsav 2025: A joyful prelude to IDY 
Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, Lonavala, Member Institute of Indian Yoga Associaiton, in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, hosted a vibrant celebration of Yogotsav 2025, marking 35 days to the International Day of Yoga....
‘Find Your Health Score’ by TNSCC online session inspires many 
As part of the celebrations for the upcoming 11th International Yoga Day 2025, an online session titled “Find Your Health Score” was held successfully on Sunday, 18 May 2025. This was a joint initiative of Universal Yoga Club, Global School of Yoga, and TNSCC –...
UPSCC organises Yoga Sangam at Abhay Shiksha Niketan Inter College, Moradabad 
A yoga camp titled Yoga Sangam was organized at Abhay Shiksha Niketan Inter College, Moradabad by Shri Amit Garg, Secretary of the Indian Yoga Association – Uttar Pradesh State Chapter, in collaboration with Mokshayatan Yoga Sansthan, Member Institute, Indian Yoga Association. The event aimed to...
UPSCC conducts Harit Yoga at Navals National Academy, Gorakhpur 
A Harit Yoga event was organized at Navals National Academy, Phulwaria Rustampur, Gorakhpur, in collaboration between the Indian Yoga Association and Sunrise Sewa Sansthan Trust. The event was conducted under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Chapter Chairperson Piyushkant Mishra, Amit Garg, Eastern Zone President Dr....
UPSCC organises CYP session at Government Girls Inter College, Moradabad 
Under the joint auspices of the Indian Yoga Association – Uttar Pradesh Chapter and Mokshayatan Yoga Sansthan, Member Institute, Indian Yoga Association, a common yoga protocol session was conducted by Yogacharya Manisha Garg for students of the Government Girls Inter College, Moradabad. Shri Devendra Kumar...
MISSION 500 Programme: A powerful start to the 100 Days Countdown to IDY 
As part of the nationwide celebration marking the 100-day countdown to the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025, the West Bengal Chapter of the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) launched the inspiring “MISSION 500” Programme—a unique initiative aimed at engaging and empowering hundreds of yoga...
Rajasthan SCC celebrates Yoga festival under ‘100 days, 100 cities, 100 organizations’ campaign 
A grand yoga festival was successfully held at the historic Nau Chouki Pal site in Rajsamand, marking 62 days before International Yoga Day 2025. This event was a part of the nationwide “100 Days, 100 Cities, 100 Organizations” campaign and was organized jointly by Gayatri...
Mass yoga session held to mark 52 days before IDY 2025 by Rajasthan SCC 
A large-scale mass yoga session was organized to commemorate 52 days remaining for the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. The event was aimed at promoting the message that yoga is not just a way of life but a powerful tool for physical and...
Krish Yoga Vidhyaalaya organisesIyengar Yoga Workshop at Heartfulness Centre, Trichy 
Krish Yoga Vidhyaalaya, Associate Centre of Indian Yoga Association, conducted a transformative Iyengar Yoga Workshop on April 12, 2025, at the Heartfulness Meditation Centre, Trichy. Held in hybrid mode, the workshop was attended by 15 yoga enthusiasts in person and online, offering a deep dive...
Gujarat SCC marks 100-Day countdown to IDY 2025 with massive participation 
On April 17, 2025, a dynamic event titled “Yogotsav” was held at Arpit Nursing College & Homeopathic Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, to mark 65 days remaining until International Day of Yoga 2025. Organized by Project ‘Life’, Indian Yoga Association – Gujarat Chapter, Art of Living,...



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22 Jun 2025

Blog

YOGA DURING COVID TIMES
Editorial

YOGA DURING COVID TIMES 

A Report on Novel Initiatives by the CYTER of SBV

Current scenario across the globe: The COVID19 invasion of the whole world has brought with it a great deal of stress for each and every individ­ual on this planet. The pandemic is advancing at a staggering pace and this “invisible enemy” has affected each and every individual with fear and threat of danger and uncertainty.

‘Yogic Self Care’ by CYTER: During the time of the lockdown worldwide, there is increased mental stress, emotional volatility and lack of physical ex­ercise that leaves people feeling increasingly dis­empowered. To overcome this, the Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER) of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV), Deemed to be Univer­sity in Pondicherry has launched a series of online sessions of “YOGIC SELF CARE” since April 2020. The sessions are being shared through the FB page of CYTER designated for the same www.facebook.com/yogicselfcare.

These pioneering initiatives to help our society during this COVID-19 pandemic has been appreciated and supported by the Ministry of AYUSH by mention in its social media. People of all age groups have partici­pated, benefitted and enjoyed these sessions conducted by qualified faculty and staff of CYTER as well as na­tionally and internationally renowned Yoga personnel enabling them to win over this disease.

Yoga for the welfare of SBV employees: The em­ployees of SBV are under tremendous stress due to direct exposure to the COVID-19. A joint survey is being conducted by CYTER along with the depart­ment of Psychiatry of MGMCRI to understand their level of stress and as a solution CYTER is offering direct and online yoga sessions for the welfare of the SBV employees.
The training programs have been organised by the Personnel Department of SBV, focusing on health is­sues of SBV employees during Covid. Yoga sessions are being scheduled and conducted on Wednesday afternoons by CYTER since the 23rd of September 2020, with batches having limited participants and strictly following social distancing and hygiene norms as stipulated by the health authorities and the Govern­ment. There has been a reduction of 48% in anxiety levels of the participants even after a single session of such yoga based stress management and relaxation at CYTER.

This program was inaugurated by the Personal Man­ager, Sri Balamugundan and senior members (As­sistant Personal Manager Mrs Nisha, Housekeeping Manager Mr Nandha Kumar) participated along with the others. Yogic techniques such as Jathis & Kriyas, simplified asanas along with Pranayama and relax­ation practices are being given during these sessions.
COVID Home Care packages are being offered for the COVID patients quarantined at home through SBV’s “E- Healthcare Services” through which con­sultations and Yoga sessions will be offered to enable them regain their health and wholistic wellness from home.
Yoga in COVID wards: CYTER of SBV, function­ing at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Re­search Institute (MGMCRI) of Pondicherry is the first one of its kind to start and sustain regular Yoga training for the COVID positive patients admitted to the hospital, as it would add to the recovery and overall wellbeing of the patients.

The Yoga Instructors of CYTER Sri Danushap­nadeesh P and Mrs Sarulatha G underwent Don­ning Doffing of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit training sessions and virtual ward orienta­tion sessions before starting the Yoga training ses­sions to the patients admitted in the COVID wards of MGMCRI.

Regular Yoga practice sessions are going on in the COVID wards from the September 7, 2020. An hour of simplified Yoga techniques is being given during the training sessions that are conducted four days a week. Both the Yoga instructors are conducting the training with a sense of devoted commitment and full zest. The same is reflected upon by the CO­VID ward patients who willingly and enthusiasti­cally participate with involvement in these lively sessions that will add up to their speedy recovery and healing.

On an average 35 to 40 COVID patients partici­pate in the Yoga training every day summing up to around 400 plus patients having been benefit­ted immensely till date. As evidenced by the sci­entific studies, practice of Yoga addresses and enhances the physical, mental and emotional di­mensions of health and wellness. We truly appre­ciate the sincerity, boldness and the Yogic spirits of both our Yoga instructors who are serving these pa­tients admitted to the COVID wards of MGMCRI.

Positive feedback has been received from both the patients as well as their families who have appreciat­ed this novel approach for health and wellness. Many of them have also been in contact with our team after going home and have reported that they are continu­ing the practices. They have especially found benefits in the oxygen saturation levels and a general sense of empowered wellness.

We need to refocus on our own salutogenesis (Sw­astha), our own inherent capacity and ability to be re­sponsible for our health and happiness. Yoga empow­ers us, and enables us to take charge of our own life, thus promoting holistic health for each and every one of us. If only we can fine-tune our chords of health and hope, world will certainly witness the success of a healthy and happy humanity earlier than later.

Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani

( Editor-in-Chief )

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