Brahma Kumaris Address at the 4th International Yoga Conference by AYUSH Ministry

Panaji, Goa: The 4^th International Day of Yoga was celebrated by the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) in association with leading Yoga Institutions including the Brahma Kumaris. Following the grand celebration, the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, organised the 4^th International Yoga Conference at the Goa Kala Academy, Panaji, for two days in November.  The theme was ‘Yoga for Public Health’. More than 500 Yoga experts and gurus, experts from Allied Sciences, delegates, and Yoga enthusiasts from India and abroad participated in this conference. The aim of the conference was to further the cause of Yoga in the field of public health, and to encourage greater and greater research in the field and at the same time highlighting the latest research trends in the field of Yoga research.
The conference was inaugurated by Shri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art of Living, Bangalore, and Shri Shripad Naik, Honorable Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. A video message of Shri Suresh Prabhu, Honorable Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Government of India, was also shown in the inaugural session.
The Conference had various technical sessions with sub-themes like Yoga for Public Health: Emerging Trends and Researches; Yoga as a Preventive Medicine; Yoga for Women, Yoga for Geriatric Population; Yoga for Cardiac Rehabilitation; Yoga for Palliative Care; Yoga for Occupational Health and Yoga for Mental Health.
BK Sapna, Senior Raja Yoga Teacher from New Delhi, delivered her talk on ‘Raja Yoga for Mental Health’ in a technical session. She said, ‘Ancient Raja Yoga is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for personal empowerment. A Yogi is an Ideal Citizen’. While referring to the Bhagavad Gita, she said, the ‘Gita is the scripture of Yoga in which God has talked about Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Sanyaas Yoga. Yoga means mental link with God the Supreme Soul, link means flow of energy from higher to lower, and empowers the soul to perform elevated actions. With the practice of Raja Yoga, one receives power to think positively and act positively. Raja Yoga is an effective tool for dealing with mental health issues that are increasing in today’s stressed world.’ In a Panel Discussion, she emphasized introducing Yoga in the curriculum of school syllabi. To make society strong and peaceful, it is essential to teach Yoga from childhood.
The Conference concluded with a Valedictory Function in which Smt. Mridula Sinha, Honorable Governor of Goa, was the Chief Guest.