Led by international research experts in yoga and Ayurveda medicine, the webinar covers up-to-date evidence about the benefits of yoga and Ayurveda for mood and mental health, discussing current challenges and specific recommendations, ending with a Q&A session.
This free two-and-a-half-hour event is open to anyone with an interest in yoga, Ayurveda and mental wellness.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Ayurveda for mind and body wellness
Ayurveda along with yoga as its integral part is a complete way of life. These systems are holistic comprising personalised approaches. They consider one as healthy when body, mind, and spirit are in the state of equilibrium, comfort, and bliss. There has been a paradigm shift from the disease cure oriented medical practices towards health and wellness-oriented healthcare services. This has been one of the focused research areas in Ministry of AYUSH. Ayurveda and yoga can immensely contribute in global healthcare.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha was appointed in 2017 as Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH. He completed his MD (Ayurveda) from Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar in 1991. Kotecha is known for his work on mental health and Ayurvedic approaches. He is the author of two books: Concept of Atattvabhinivesha in Ayurveda, which discusses minor psychiatric disorders within Ayurveda parameters, and A Beginner's Guide to Ayurveda, which is about Ayurveda principles and day-to-day life practices to remain healthy. Kotecha also received the Global Ayurveda Physician Award in 2007, the Ayurveda Ratna Award in 2008, and Padmashri Award in 2015 (the fourth highest civilian award of India declared by the President of India). He has been a member of research councils and advisory boards of many organisations, and served as Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar 2013-2016. Kotecha was also Chief Consultant of Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic and Research Center, Jaipur.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living, India
Health, healing and consciousness
Life has a very unique ability to heal and develop itself. The potential our consciousness has is amazing. The entire structure of a plant is present in every seed. In the same way, the DNA contained in every cell of our body contains the whole program of our being. Affecting a change at the level of the seed can affect a change in the whole stem, the whole flower, the entirety of the plant. We have to get back to the source, which is our consciousness, our mind. From there exists an infinite potentiality to control the body, its resistance, its power and everything.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader. He has spearheaded an unprecedented worldwide movement for a stress-free, violence-free society. Through a myriad of programmes and teachings, a network of organisations including the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values, and a rapidly growing presence across 156 countries, Sri Sri has reached an estimated 450 million people. Sri Sri has developed unique, impactful programmes that empower, equip and transform individuals to tackle challenges at global, national, community and individual levels.
Dr Antonio Morandi, President, Italian Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine, Italy
Balancing mind with Ayurveda for a perfect global health
The concept of health in Ayurveda is inclusive and multidimensional and, unlike Modern Medicine, depends on the individual's conscious relationship with the environment. The Ayurvedic concept of Manas (cognitive mind) is of fundamental importance. Manas coordinate and integrate sensory information into a model of reality on the basis of which all physiology is regulated. The optimal functioning of Manas is a necessary condition for the body's continuous adaptation to environmental changes. Ayurveda offers conceptual and practical tools for the evaluation of the state of Manas for its equilibrium. This presentation will analyse these factors in comparison with the concept of the Modern Medicine Mind.
Dr Antonio Morandi is a medical doctor, specialist in neurology and Ayurveda doctor. He is president of the Italian Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine and founder and director of Ayurvedic Point, Institute of Ayurveda, in Milan, Italy. Dr Morandi lectures on Ayurveda in several Universities, including the Elective Course "Introduction to Ayurvedic Medicine", Faculty of Medicine, State University of Milan. He is also member of World Health Organization’s Ayurveda Working Group, in addition to other scientific committees and editorial boards. Dr Morandi co-authored “An integrated view of Health and Well-being - Bridging Indian and Western Knowledge” published by Springer.
Dr Holger Cramer, Research Director, Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
Calming the fluctuations of the mind? State of the science on yoga for mental health and wellness in cancer
Yoga, as Patañjali defined it, is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind. It thus seems natural that yoga might improve mental health and wellness. A high percentage of individuals whose lives have been affected by cancer suffer from impaired mental health and wellness; and yoga’s potential to ameliorate those impairments has been evaluated in an increasing number of studies. This keynote will present the state of the science on use, efficacy, and safety of yoga in supportive oncology.
Dr Holger Cramer is Research Director at the Department for Internal and Integrative Medicine at the Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte and the University of Duisburg-Essen. He also is Adjunct Associate Professor at Southern Cross University, and holds a fellowship from the University of Technology Sydney. Dr Cramer is President-Elect of the International Society of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Research (ISCMR), and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles. His main research focus is the use, efficacy and safety of yoga in therapy and prevention. He holds a PhD in medical science and a DSc (hc) in yoga.
Dr Michael de Manincor, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia
Yoga research for mental health in Australia
Mental health concerns are common and debilitating. Australian research shows that whilst people commence yoga practice for a variety of different reasons, many people report continuing their yoga practice for mental health benefits. More than a recreational activity, growing research evidence suggests benefits from a range of different yoga-based interventions for mental health conditions. A brief overview of Australian research in this area is included in this webinar presentation.
Dr Michael de Manincor is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and lead of yoga related research at NICM Health Research Institute. He is a registered psychologist, and founder and director of The Yoga Institute and also The Yoga Foundation in Australia, and served as past President of Yoga Australia. Dr de Maninco is also an expert advisory on the World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group Meeting on WHO Benchmarks for Training in Yoga. He is one of the most highly respected yoga teachers in Australia, with over 30 years’ teaching experience. Dr de Manincor has been published in academic journals such as Depression and Anxiety, Pharmacopsychiatry, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, and BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Further details
WHEN: Thursday, 5 November 2020 TIME: 3.00pm-5.35pm AEDT / 9.30am-12.05pm IST / 5am-7.35am CET VENUE: Zoom webinar COST: This is a free event
Watch the recording
Video description: Webinar - Yoga and Ayurveda Medicine for Mental Wellness
0.00
Welcome address and official proceedings
0.38
Ayurveda for mind and body wellness
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
0.52
Health, healing and consciousness
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art of Living, India
1.03
Balancing mind with Ayurveda for a perfect global health
Dr Antonio Morandi, President, Italian Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine, Italy
1.27
Yoga research for mental health in Australia
Dr Michael de Manincor, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Australia
1.46
Calming the fluctuations of the mind? State of the science on yoga for mental health and wellness in cancer
Dr Holger Cramer, Research Director, Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
