Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India, is a premier Yoga Institute for all aspects of Yoga Education, Training, Therapy and Research. It started in the form of hospital in 1970, connected with Vishwayatan Yogashram helmed by Swami DhirendraBrahmchari who had been the Director of the institute during 1976-77 and 1980-94. Later in 1976, the hospital got converted to an institute Central Research Institute for Yoga (CRIY). MDNIY as the former Central Research Institute for Yoga (CRIY) was elevated to National status in 1998. The present building of MDNIY was made operational in 2005.

From 1994 till the joining of Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, the institute was headed by many Director In-charges.

Management

The Institute is fully funded by the Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India. The Union Minister of AYUSH is the President of the General Body of the Institute. The Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India is the Chairperson of the Governing Council.

Sh. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji
Union Cabinet Minister, Ministry of AYUSH & Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways

Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai
Kalubhai
Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha
Chairperson, Governing Council,
MDNIY

Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi
Director, MDNIY

The Ministry of AYUSH appointed the regular Director in 2005. The present Director of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, is heading the institute since the 2005. Director MDNIY strongly advocates making Yoga an integral part of day-to-day life as it’s a time-tested technology mantra for a better, healthier life! Under his leadership, the institute has achieved many landmark milestones.

Established with the objective to develop, promote and propagate the science and art of Yoga, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga has emerged as a Centre of Excellence over the years. Functioning under the Ministry of AYUSH, it promotes deeper understanding of Yoga philosophy and practices based on timeless Indian cultural traditions. It provides and promotes facilities of Yoga education, training, therapy and research to the aspirants, researchers and practitioners all over the globe. Ever since its inception, it has taken big strides to fulfill its vision of health, happiness &harmony for all through the practice of Yoga.

Aim

The Aim of the Institute is to promote deeper understanding of Yoga philosophy and practices based on ancient Yoga Traditions for holistic health and well-being of all.

Objectives

The Objectives of the Institute are-

• To act as a centre of excellence in Yoga;
• To develop, promote and propagate the philosophy, science and art of Yoga; and
• To provide and promote facilities for Yoga education, training, therapy and research to fulfil the above two objectives.

Vision
Health, Happiness & Harmony for all through Yoga

Mission
To provide the best of Yoga Education, Training, Therapy and Research facilities to the aspirants, researchers and practitioners of Yoga to meet the aspirations of modern age.

Achievements
• The Institute plays a lead role in the observation of International Day of Yoga (IDY). MDNIY coordinated the compilation and design of Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) in 2015, which has since emerged as one of the most influential developments in yoga practice in recent years, and is today globally recognized as an ideal beginners’ programme.

• It is instrumental in bringing all leading Yoga institute, Yoga traditions and lineages under one platform.

• MDNIY as a WHO CC prepared a mobile platform (mYoga) App on “Yoga Protocol for General Wellness” that offers Yoga learning modules and practice sessions for a global audience. mYoga was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on IDY- 2021, i.e., 21st June, 2021.

• Yoga Break at Workplace protocol was developed by the institute and a monograph has been prepared out of its findings. Sh. Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of AYUSH and Port, Shipping & Waterways launched the Yoga Break App on 1st September 2018 at 5.30 pm at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Institute was instrumental in getting Yogasana recognized as a Competitive Sport declared by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• The institute was instrumental in establishing Indian Yoga Association (IYA) a Self-Regulatory Body for standardization and accreditation of Yoga. Director, MDNIY was the Secretary General of IYA for 10 years. All the leading Yoga Institution, Yoga Departments in Universities are members of the IYA.

• Instrumental in setting up Yoga Certification Board to bring quality and standards in the Yoga practice and Yoga teaching and promoting Yoga as career skill.

• Established Total 159 Swami Vivekananda District Yoga Wellness Centre under Public Private Partnership wherein more than 8 lakh participants were benefited.

• Introduced Yoga in School Health wherein total 438 teachers were trained and a book on Yoga Teacher’s Manual published

• Yoga Mahotsav: MDNIY has been oragnising Yoga Mahotsav-a Curtain Raiser for International Day of Yoga (IDY)to sensitize the masses for celebration of IDY since 2016. The event witnesses the auspicious presence of eminent dignitaries, Yoga Experts and Yoga Sadhaks across India and abroad.

• Total 09 National Yoga Weeks were conducted from 2007-15. More than 1000 Yoga enthusiasts participated every year.

• Yoga in COVID Pandemic: Institute had conducted online Yoga Therapy classes during COVID Pandemic from May,2020, wherein approximately 5.00 lakh people benefitted out of these classes During 2nd wave, around 14,673 COVID positive as well as high risk people have been benefitted out of this programme with 62,901 patient’s days.

• Established 5 Advanced Research Centres for Yoga in Premier Medical Institutes

1. Advanced Centre for Yoga Therapy & Research Centre in Mental Health & Neurosciences, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore- 560029
2. Advanced Centre for Yoga Education Therapy & Research in Cardiovascular diseases and Diabetes mellitus, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantari Nagar, Puducherry- 605006
3. Advanced Centre for Yoga Education & Research Centre in Respiratory Disorders and Geriatric Care, Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
4. Centre for Advanced Research & Training in Yoga in Operational Stress and Performance Improvement of Defence Personnel, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Science, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054 Delhi
5. Advanced Centre for Yoga Therapy and Research in Chest Diseases at Govt. Medical College, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir.

• Yoga at Tihar Jail: In a historic development Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India and Prison Headquarters, Central Jail, Tihar, New Delhi has started a project Sanjeevan wherein the entire Tihar jail inmates will be trained as Yoga trainers followed by certified by Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India.Common Yoga Protocol were practiced at Tihar Jail for the celebration of IDY, 2019 where more than 16, 000 Jail inmates were participated.

• Prime Minister’s Yoga Awards: MDNIY played a pivotal role in the successful organizing of presentation of Prime Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution towards Promotion & Development of Yoga; Release of Commemorative Postage Stamps on “Master Healers of AYUSH” and launch of AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres at VigyanBhavan on 30th August, 2019.

• Total 10 booklets were published by MDNIY under WHO project; peer reviewed by the various Experts of the country both from modern medicine and Yoga field

MDNIY’s Social Media Presence

(i) MDNIY Social media platforms: MDNIY has adopted digital and social media platforms in a big way, to keep in touch with the public. Facebook and YouTube Live Webinars are conducted every Friday.
(ii) Friday Webinar: MDNIY has been organizing webinar on every Friday since 2nd October. The response in the social media platforms has been quite satisfactory.

• Yoga Vijnana Journal: The institute is publishing its journal “Yoga Vijnana-The Science and Art of Yoga. The very motto of the journal conforms to the aims and objectives of the Institute and comprise of quality articles from popular, scientific, semi-scientific, reviewed articles, case reports and textual domains of the Science & Art of Yoga. It is publishing the quality writings to disseminate the latest trends, knowledge and research, being conducted in the field of Yoga and allied disciplines.

• E-Education and Virtual learning: The institute is preparing to embrace the new norm of e-education and virtual learning in the post-Covid 19 scenario. A set of capacity building measures were taken viz. setting up of digital studios, interactive class rooms, and up gradation of lease line to take up various online training programmes to cater the need of various target groups.

• Certificate Course in Yoga for Protocol Instructor for the students of Leh: MDNIY in collaboration with National Research Institute of Sowa Rigpa, Leh conducted Certificate Course in Yoga for Protocol Instructor of one month duration (200hrs) for 99 students of Leh. The basic motto of the course was to train students of Leh who can take Yoga as their career in future. All the students have also successfully completed the Level-1 exam of Yoga Certification Board.

Programmes run by MDNIY
Yoga Educational Courses

• M.Sc. (Yoga): Two years duration
• B.Sc. (Yoga Science): for 10+2 Science stream students; 3years duration
• Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy for Medicos andPara-medicos (PGDYTMP): one year duration
• Diploma in Yogic Science (DYSc) for Graduates: One Year Duration
• Certificate Course for Yoga Therapy Assistant (CCYTA)6 months duration
• Certificate Course in Yoga for Wellness Instructor(CCYWI): 6 months duration
• Certificate Course in Yoga for Protocol Instructor(CCYPI): 3 months duration
•Foundation Course in Yoga Science for Wellness (FCYSc.W):one month duration
(FCYSc.W):one month duration

Teaching Departments

Yoga Therapy Programmes
• The Institute is recognized by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH)
• It runs Yoga Therapy OPD consisting of Senior Medical Officers, Yoga-Ayurveda Physicians, Dieticians, Yoga Experts and Naturopathy Physicians
• Runs four Yoga Therapy Centres in AYUSH/Allopathic Hospitals
• Runs 19 preventive health care units of Yoga in CGHS dispensaries wherein about 1.5 lakhs patients are benefitted every year.
• An average of 3-4 lakhs people are being benefitted every year through various Yoga programmes & activities of the Institute.

Special Programmes

• The institute conducts Monthly Clinical Yoga Therapy Workshop on first Saturday by inviting experts of modern medicine, eminent Yoga scholars and researchers
• Conducting Friday Webinar by inviting eminent Yoga scholars and researchers for the Institute’s faculty and students.
• It runs PanchamSwar, bi-monthly socio cultural programme.
• It runs a Stress Management Workshop
• Re-Orientation programme for Yoga Professional

Infrastructure Facility

• Audio Visual Smart Class Room-8
• Kriya Hall – 04
• Sound proof Mediation Hall
• Shatkarma Block
• Laboratories – 06
• (Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics ,Biochemistry, Psychology ,Computer)
• Enriched Library – >16000 books and subscription of National and International Journals and Magazines
• Conference Hall
• Auditorium
• Open Air Theatre (Amphitheatre)
• Sports Area
• Administrative block
• Committee Room
• Cafeteria

Collaboration with other Bodies
The Institute coordinates with all leading Yoga institutions to bring the synergy in the Yoga protocols.

• It provides technical support to UGC, NCERT, NCTE, CBSE, IGNOU, ICCR, MH&FW, MYA&S, MEA, MHA,MI&B, MW&CW, MR and other such bodies and ministries.

Yoga Certification Board

The Yoga Certification Board (YCB) was set up in March, 2018 under the aegis of MDNIY with complete functional autonomy. The YCB has Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH as the Chairperson, and Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH as the Vice Chairperson. The YCB has representation from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Accreditation expert, legal experts and Yoga experts.

Publications & propagation

The Institute participates in health exhibitions, health melas,seminars, conferences, etc, and also brings out booklets, leaflets,informative brochures, IEC materials, Yoga charts, CDs,etc. on fundamental aspects of Yoga and Yogicpractices as well as on different diseases for the benefit ofgeneral public.