INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY - 2021

Talk by Rev Fr Dr Ivon D Almeida on ‘A Brief Understanding of Yoga and Meditation' at the School of Law at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, 2021. On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, the School of Law at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus organised a talk on ‘A Brief Understanding of Yoga and Meditation' by Rev Fr Dr Ivon D Almeida. The talk was organised on June 21, 2021 at 5:00 PM on Zoom Platform. The speaker for the talk Rev Fr Dr Ivon D Almeida is a certified practitioner in Pranic Healing, Reiki and Naturopathy. He holds a Ph D, M Phil, M Th, B Ed and TTC in Yoga. The talk began with a welcome note by Rev Fr Dr Jossy P George, Director and Dean at CHRIST(Deemed to be university), Pune Lavasa Campus and Dr Daisy Alexander, Head of Department, School of Law.

The International Yoga Day was initiated to preserve and propagate this tradition.

Yoga is a part of ancient Indian traditions of staying mentally, emotionally and physically fit. The School of Law organised this event with the aim of celebrating this tradition. Dr Almeida began by explaining the significance of yoga in one’s daily life and its popularisation by our current Hon’ble Prime Minister. He explained and demonstrated various asanas, pranayama and meditation techniques to reduce emotional and mental stress and physical fatigue. Dr Almeida mentioned that yoga is misconceived as asanas only and educated the participants about the role of Yoga in helping individuals connect with their spiritual self. Yoga extends beyond the manas (mind) to the true existence of self cetan (consciousness). Our mind, by its nature cultivates biases, dwells on the sorrows of a non-existent past, and formulates innumerable fantasies for the future. This creates a state of mental paralysis towards attempting a new action. He stated that yoga can be used to motivate oneself towards building a healthy and prosperous life.

Dr Almeida emphasised on the benefits of meditation in our daily lives. The mind, like a sponge, absorbs everything that an individual contemplates and experiences. Furthermore the current sedentary lifestyle makes it difficult for many individuals to engage in physical exercise everyday. He stated that this takes a toll on the mental and physical well being of an individual if not managed properly. He hence encouraged the faculty members and the students to engage in mindfulness everyday. This helps connect one to their inner self, reduce stress, improves focus and reduces the clutter in one’s mind. He guided the audience into a meditation where he focused on breathing techniques and better concentration. This was a very calming and rejuvenating exercise for the participants. Dr Almeida concluded the talk by urging all attendees to actively incorporate healthier lifestyle techniques for the holistic development of their personal and professional lives. The talk was insightful and provided faculty members and students with a holistic awareness around good health and well-being.