State Chapter Committees are the most important extensions of Indian Yoga Association (IYA). Today IYA is proud to have 26 state chapter committees under its umbrella. To motivate and encourage SCC Members, Indian Yoga Association organized National Conclave of State Chapter Committees on March 3, 2023 at Anuvrat Bhavan, New Delhi to motivate and encourage State Chapter Committees Members of IYA.
The occasion was graced by the Gurus of Indian Yoga Association— Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Chairman, Swami Bharat Bhushan, Governing Council Member, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Governing Council Member, Dr H R Nagendra, Governing Council Member and Shri Ishwar Basavaraddi, Governing Council Member and Muniji Shri Kamal Kumar. Maa Dr Hansaji Yogendra, President, IYA joined us online from Dubai.
The Gurus were received and welcomed by Secretary General Shri Subodh Tiwari. Shri KC Jain, Treasurer, Dr SP Mishra, CEO, PrCB, were also present.
National Conclave saw the presence of around 90 members from 22 State Chapter Committees, 42 Life Members, 18 Associate Centres, yoga professional members, volunteers and others. Event commenced with the Shanti Mantra by Shri Subodh Tiwari and lightening of lamps by our revered Gurus.
In the welcoming note, Maa Dr Hansaji Yogendra, President, IYA recalled the beginning of IYA in 2008 when all the then Yoga Gurus came together to form an association that can inform the world about Yoga. In her speech she also invited State Chapter Committees to share their problems and queries. “It is important that we all work together to establish Yoga. So let us all celebrate,” she added.
Followed by her address, Guruji Dr HR Nagendra, Founding Member, IYA narrated how he and Shri Ishwar Basavaraddi, Governing Council Member met Shri BKS Iyengar to lay the foundation stone of Indian Yoga Association. He further added that it is important that we synergise all working for promotion of Yoga to bring higher force. We are all together to take IYA to greater heights. We need a systematic procedure to promote Yoga to the people at large and for that we have IYA spreading its wings everywhere. Therefore we all should bring our energies together to form synergetic dimension.
Thereafter, Swami Bharat Bhushan in his address said in 1990, it was dreamt of taking Yoga on the international pedestal and today we are happy to see the entire world celebrating International Day of Yoga. But unfortunately, the quality of yoga teachers is declining. People come in to become Yoga teachers but are not interested in becoming Yoga Sadhaks. To be able to teach you should be a sadhak first. IYA has been bringing people from all over the world together.
This was followed by the address of Muniji Kamal Kumar who said Yoga means to join. People these days because of stress adapt bad habits, which ultimately causes more problems rather they should meditate and learn the art of living. Understand Yoga and be focused, he stressed.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati speaking on the dias said, “Yoga is union and today we all are united. However, we are united with our egos, grudges, jealousy and that is the reason for all our problems.
We need to connect with ourselves with Yoga. Asanas will not make our life easy. Our life will be simplified with Yama, Niyama, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi that comes before and after asana.”
To appreciative and applaud the efforts of the State Chapter Committees, Indian Yoga Association awarded the State Chapter Committees is different categories on the basis of work done by them in last one year.
• Karnataka SCC was felicitated by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for generating most memberships of around 1500 in last one year.
• Tamil Nadu SCC was felicitated by Swami Chidananda Saraswati for adding most Life Members to IYA in last one year.
• Pondicherry SCC bagged the award for organising most amount of events and were felicitated by Swami Bharat Bhushan.
• Jharkhand SCC were recognised and awarded by Guruji Dr HR Nagendra for being most innovative.
Thereafter, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar answered the queries of the SCC Members. During the Q&A session he stressed on the fact that as the Yoga teachers it is important for all IYA Members to be proficient with yoga. Yoga has to be promoted as the holistic approach towards life. We all are united.
On the occasion MoU signed between IYA and National Institute of Open Schooling, Yogavani and IYA brochure was also released by the Gurus.
In the post lunch session, Guruji Dr HR Nagendra, Shri Subodh Tiwari, Shri SP Mishra, CEO, PrCB, Shri KC Jain, Treasurer and Shri PC Kapoor were seen on the dias and they had an interactive session with the SCCs. This was followed by the presentation by Dr SP Mishra, CEO IYA PrCB and he discussed in detail the working of PrCB. Thereafter, Dr Mishra solved a few queries of the State Chapter Committee members.
The event concluded with Shanti Mantra
