Mandi- With the Yoga for 'Vasudevkutumbhkam' theme reverberating in the world at large, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi kicked off the G20-S20 Meet on international Yoga Day here.
The event aims to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss important topics and generate ideas for inclusive and sustainable development.
The opening day of the event coincided with International Yoga Day and focused on highlighting the physical and mental benefits of yoga.
The esteemed presence of Prof. Prem Vrat, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Mandi and IIT Dhanbad, added to the significance of the event.
Prof. Vrat praised the initiative of starting the G20-S20 Meet with International Yoga Day, acknowledging yoga as a valuable Indian contribution to the world.
He emphasized the impact of yoga on physical, mental, and spiritual health and expressed the importance of the event in spreading awareness about yoga.
During his keynote address on 'Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam: Yoga - The Art of All Work,' Prof. Behera emphasized the power of yoga and its significance in modern life.
He described yoga as a way of life rather than a religious ritual, highlighting its benefits on consciousness, both internal and external. He also mentioned that yoga is a unique art that is still being explored by modern science.
The first day of the event focused on the importance of yoga in holistic development. Keynote sessions were conducted by notable speakers, covering topics such as mental health, Indian knowledge systems, Ayurveda, and the role of technology.
Dr. Richa Chopra from the Centre of Excellence for IKS, IIT Kharagpur, spoke about the universal ideas from Patanjali's Yoga Sutra on mind and mental health. She emphasized the importance of mental well-being and how yoga sutras provide a step-by-step methodology to enhance awareness and gain inner peace.
Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, discussed the biomedical psychophysiology of yoga. He highlighted that yoga practices offer various benefits to physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being, going beyond the scope of modern medicine.
The event also featured sessions on making yoga an integral part of daily life, yoga's connection to Ayurveda, and the promotion of universal brotherhood and love through yoga.
A panel discussion on the benefits of yoga within empirical science provided insights into the intersection of yoga and modern health practices.
Additionally, live demonstrations of various human-computer interaction (HCI) based technologies took place, including a posture-correcting yoga mat, computer vision-based glasses for the visually impaired, a health-tech application for body vitals, and an augmented reality presentation showcasing Himachal Pradesh's contributions to Ayurveda, medical science, and spiritualism.
