The 48th Executive Council (EC) Meeting of the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) was held on April 15, 2025, via an online platform. The meeting was presided over by Maa Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, President of the Association, and commenced with a prayer, followed by an opening address in which she acknowledged the dedication of the EC members towards the mission of IYA and encouraged them to continue working sincerely. The Secretary General, Shri Subodh Tiwari, then presented the agenda and proceedings for the meeting.
The minutes of the 47th EC Meeting held on January 28, 2025, were circulated earlier for review. As no objections or amendments were proposed, the minutes were unanimously approved. Shri Tiwari proceeded to present the Action Taken Report for the 47th Meeting. Highlights included the successful organization of Yog Kumbh 2025. Key developments at the 4th National Conclave on March 3, 2025, included the launch of the IYA App, unveiling of the new Yoga Therapy syllabus, distribution of Yoga Seva Puraskar awards, and introduction of the Patron role in State Chapter Committees (SCCs). Updates were also shared regarding the Monthly CYCLE Program, yoga therapy screening data on the website, and the scheduling of the Global Research Conference at the Art of Living (AOL) Campus, Bengaluru, for January 30 – February 1, 2026. The 9th Governing Council meeting on March 3, 2025, proposed the inclusion of Acharya Shri Mahashraman Ji and Dr. Prashant Iyengar Ji; the latter declined the offer due to travel constraints. The Bihar School of Yoga deputed Dr. Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati to IYA’s research and accreditation committees, further strengthening institutional collaborations. The 6th session of the Manthan lecture series was announced for April 26, 2025.
Reformation of the State Chapter Committees were also addressed at the meeting. The restructuring efforts were based on two primary criteria: completion of a 4–5-year term and non-performance. Telangana’s chapter is being revived under the leadership of Prof. Alva Kumar, Andhra Pradesh has submitted a new list of members pending office-bearer finalization, and Delhi’s chapter is being reorganized due to underperformance, with anticipated increased engagement supported by the Ministry of AYUSH. The West Bengal SCC was amended. All reformation proposals and the amendment were approved unanimously.
The Global Research Conference at AOL, Bengaluru, was reconfirmed for January 30–February 1, 2026. The Council approved the formation of an Organizing Committee (comprising all EC members) and a Program Committee (including researchers from various disciplines) for the event. A new application for member institution status from the FSSA Council, which has a strong fitness presence in three states, was also approved. FSSA will join as an Associate Centre.
IYA’s participation in the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 100-day countdown event on March 13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan was noted. A subsequent official IDY event has been sanctioned for Gujarat on May 17, to be organized by the Gujarat chapter. IYA continues its engagement with the Ministry of AYUSH and has requested representation on the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
Under “Any Other Matters,” several initiatives were discussed. Dr. Ganesh Rao’s new book “Through and Through Pranayama Practices – A Daily Guide for Practitioners” was officially released in March. It is a comprehensive guide for yoga teachers, based on over 750 online sessions conducted since 2020. Copies will be distributed to EC members. Updates were shared about the proposed structure of the Global Research Conference 2026, which will include dual tracks—formal research and experiential practice—to reflect the diversity of the yoga community.
Dr. Ananda shared details on the finalized syllabus for the Assistant Yoga Therapist certification, with eligible institutions invited to adopt the program. Dr. Ganesh Rao also introduced a Common Meditation Protocol being developed for International Meditation Day on December 21. It will serve as an inclusive and tradition-sensitive resource. Finally, the proposal for introducing Patrons in State Chapters was approved. Patrons will contribute funds to support SCC activities without receiving membership benefits, though their support will be acknowledged publicly.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by the President and a prayer.
