By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Rishikesh, 12 Mar: The fourth day of the 37th annual International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan saw approximately 1,200 yogis from 75 countries, united under one banner of health and wellness. Uttarakhand Minister Ganesh Joshi invited everyone to Mussoorie and welcomed them to visit more of the Himalayan State. He also emphasised that, in addition to the state being rich in medicinal herbs, it is also rich in millets. He was told that the participants of the Festival are getting millets from Uttarakhand in their breakfast every morning.
Singer, song-writer and famous rapper Raja Kumar also joined Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati for the Aarti and offered a very powerful performance of her new album, From Kashi to Kailash, bringing participants to their feet in divine dancing and sacred movement.
The fourth day of the festival built on the energy of the previous days with early morning yoga sadhana followed by diverse class offerings that unfolded into an enlightening Wisdom Talk Spiritual Plenary session before lunch, delving deeper on the theme “Ancient and Modern Secrets to Health and Healing” from the previous day.
The session featured an extraordinary lineup of esteemed speakers, each bringing their unique expertise to the table: Dr Edison De Mello, a renowned integrative medicine expert and founder of the Akasha Centre for Integrative Medicine, bridging the gap between Western science and holistic healing. Dr Edison De Mello emphasised the limitations of allopathic medicine, stating, “The problem with allopathic medicine is how it’s practiced. There is nothing beyond—right in front of them is the disease, and they forget to look into the patient’s eyes and empower them. The knowledge doesn’t lie within me, but within them.”
He also highlighted the boundless potential of integrating allopathic medicine with Eastern wisdom, emphasising that, together, they can transcend limitations.
Other speakers included Ramkumar, prominent Ayurvedacharya, leading Punarnava Ayurveda in Coimbatore’s Vaidyagrama Ayurvedic Centre; Maria Alejandra Avcharian, an Ayurvedic medicine therapist and plastic artist; Dr Krushna Naram, a well-known practitioner of Ayurveda and an expert in traditional healing methods from a lineage of Vaidyacharyas; Ganga Nandini, who has been in service, teaching, studying and practicing Yoga at Parmarth Niketan for over 14 years.
Ganga Nandini shared the immense storehouse of knowledge that one gets tapped into when one stays in a sacred space like Rishikesh and dedicates one’s life to health, healing and service. She shared her own journey from an auto-immune disorder like Lupus and then to finding Yoga, Wellness and a purpose filled life as the medium to true health and wellness which lies in holistic living. She shared the powerful impact of seva and encouraged all participants to truly strive to live Yoga.
The session was moderated by Stewart Gilchrist, a Scottish senior yoga teacher and practitioner from London, known for his extensive training in various styles of yoga, particularly his expertise in traditional ashtanga yoga and its therapeutic applications.
Each of the speakers emphasised on how their own journey with pursuing health and wellness has brought them to India and how being in India and on the holy banks of Maa Ganga greatly enhances their ability to be channels of health and wellness across the world.
The evening concluded with a musical Ganga Aarti with a special kirtan by Artist Gurnimit Singh followed by a vibrant evening cultural performance titled “Colours of India” by Nrityavali, a special dance presentation highlighting the diverse and rich folk cultural traditions of India. Founded by acclaimed Indian performing artists Bharat Bariya and Akshay Patel, Nrityavali is an independent dance company focused on emotive storytelling through dance.
Swami Chidanand shared in the evening Ganga Aarti, “Don’t just do yoga, be yoga, it means every action we are acting from a remembrance of union. When my stomach is hungry, I feed it. We take care of ourselves. Real karma yoga is action in which I am aware every single empty tummy on this planet is mine. That every single aching being on this planet is me. That there is no separation, we are one. And therefore, we serve.”
The morning classes included that of Gurushabd Singh Khalsa, who is a spiritual teacher, practitioner, and leader within the Sikh and Kundalini Yoga communities. He is known for his teachings in Kundalini Yoga, meditation, and Sikh philosophy, often focusing on personal transformation, mindfulness, and the power of spiritual practice. Others were Kia Miller, a renowned yoga teacher, practitioner, and spiritual guide best known for her expertise in Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Flow; Stewart Gilchrist who focuses on aligning physical postures with mindful breathwork and meditation, encouraging a holistic approach to yoga that integrates body mind and spirit and Sudhanshu Sharma leading her students in engaging with sunrise chanting.
Later in the day, Shiva Rea taught the sacred flow for women and feeling that positive energy; Sensei Sandeep Desai taught Qigong to heal and energise the body, mind, and spirit. Drawing from ancient Chinese practices, he integrates Qigong’s gentle movements, breathwork, and meditation techniques to help students restore balance and vitality. His approach focuses on cultivating the flow of energy (Qi) within the body, enhancing overall well-being, and promoting physical healing. Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa spoke in the Blue Pearl session, designed to help individuals connect deeply with their inner essence, drawing from the teachings of Kundalini Yoga focusing on meditation, breath work and movement.
After lunch, Dr Edison De Mello and Maria Alejandra Avcharian, experts in health and yoga, guided students in discovering peace from within. By blending ancient wisdom with contemporary insights, they illuminated the path to self-discovery, inspiring students to form a deeper, more meaningful connection with themselves and their health.
Mohan Bhandari held a session on immune resilience: Yoga for immunity and enhancement. By combining breathwork, asanas, and mindful movement, he empowered students to build resilience in both body and mind, helping them cultivate a stronger, more balanced immune response.
