Civil 20 (C20) for G20 with eminent yoga and meditation presenters held on the Day 5 of International Yoga Festival in Collaboration with Mata Amritanandmayi Devi (Amma), Chair of C20
Parmarth Niketan collaborates with Mata Amritanandmayi Devi (Amma), the chair of C20 to coordinate efforts to engage in dialogue from eminent yoga and meditation teachers from different verticals, during the International Yoga Festival Day 5 and 6 to come up with a policy of suggestion to include in the policy pack 2023 for India’s G20 Presidency
A highlight of Day 5 was a Special Spiritual Plenary session on – United we stand: Rediscovering the union (Yoga) in our communities and Nations with Rev. Michael Beckwith, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Abuelo Antonio Oxte and Tommy Rosen
The fifth day of IYF was another beautiful day filled with Yoga Sessions including Therapeutic Ashtanga Yoga, Vedic Chanting, Ganga Yoga, World Peace Meditation, Nada Yoga, Hatha Yoga, session on face yoga for Glowing skin, practicals of fat loss and back pain and many more, with sacred evening yagya, special ecstatic devotional chanting and kirtan with Vishvambhar concluded by the sacred evening Ganga Aarti, bringing people together in love and oneness
RISHIKESH: The fifth day of the world-renowned International Yoga Festival (IYF) was overflowing with another full day of diverse offerings in yoga, meditation, lectures and talks throughout and today eminent global presenters had the great opportunity to impact global public and health policy through Parmarth Niketan’s collaboration with Mata Amritanandmayi Devi (Amma), appointed chair of Civil 20 (C20) to coordinate the efforts to engage yoga and meditation teachers in different verticals to come up with a set of policy suggestions which the G20 will include in their policy pack 2023.
Under the divine guidance and blessing of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Director of IYF, with the support of Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, in association with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of AYUSH the Festival has been uniquely integrated with the G20 theme of One Family, One Earth and One Future.
C20 is one of the largest engagement groups of G20. It provides a platform for Civil Society of Organizations (CSOs) around the world to bring forth a non-government and non-business voice to G20.
The presenters shared their success stories, projects, data, experience and policy recommendations. By highlighting the selected projects, and positive outcomes, the C20 will create opportunities to multiply their effects, inspiring others and showing the way to replicate similar practices on a worldwide scale, hence having an international ripple effect.
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The early morning classes included Vedic chanting with Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji, head of the Parmarth Niketan yoga and meditation centre, Therapeutic Ashtanga Yoga with Sandeep Desai master of Ashtanga Yoga and T’ai Chi, Nada yoga with Gumi, a Nada yoga teacher from Japan & Arindam, a Tabla Artist.
After a Sattvik and light breakfast the participants participated for the second series of sessions for the day which included:
Special spiritual plenary session on “ United we Stand: Rediscovering the Union (Yoga) in our communities and nations” conducted by Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Author, and Founder and Spiritual Director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, Abuelo Antonio Oxte, an indigenous elder and a Shaman moderated by Tommy Rosen, a Yoga Teacher and Founder of Recovery 2.0, a recovery from addiction expert.
Where Pujya Sadhviji shared about the importance of each of us fulfilling our own dharma. “When we don’t know who we are, we don’t know what to do. Our yogic and meditative practices show us who we are so then what to do comes naturally.” She also highlighted the importance of forgiveness by saying:
“We don’t forgive because what someone else did was okay. We forgive because we deserve to be free; Grudges, anger and resentment block us from being free….The Law of karma doesn’t require us to remind the universe who did what and who deserves what. Our responsibility is to our own freedom. So we forgive everyday as many times a day as we can, because regardless what has been done to us, we deserve to be free”
In his keynote address on “United We Stand,” Rev. Michael Beckwith emphasized the importance of the role of LOVE. We don’t have to agree with everyone. We just have to be able to love them even if we don’t agree. He said “It’s not about being right. It’s about being on the right side of history which is the unfolding of the epic love, compassion and kindness. It is the conscious connection with the dynamic process and the willingness to love to love. So anyone who comes into the atmosphere of an individual who is mature enough to love to love gets transformed by the feeling and tone of that connection. It takes courage, it takes willingness, an inner desire, sincerity to be able to hold that frequency.”
Paula Tapia, international Yoga, mindfulness and wellness expert taught the Chair Yoga Class to improve flexibility, strength, while boosting mood and energy.
A Hatha Yoga inspired by Sivananda Yoga to enhance strength, flexibility and balance was led by Ira Trivedi, Yoga Acharya
Power Vinyasa – Align Up with Your Highest Self Workshop: Clarity in Your Calling was conducted by inspirational Katie B. Happyy from San Diego,
Hatha Vinyasa Flow & Healing Meditation by Ambika Juliana Indian classical dancer, and loves making the fusion between yoga, Indian classical dance and contemporary dance and Nitai Krishna, yogi born and raised in the Bhakti Yoga community in Ghana.
ASession titled “Kundalini and The Infinite Pharmacy Within” by Tommy Rosen, The Harmonic Spine: Music as Medicine class by Joseph Scmidlin a classical osteopath physician, and sound practitioner
Dr. Nishi Bhatt, a certified nutritionist and a developmental and behavioural science for children doctor, led the very informative “Practical Implications of Naadi Yoga”, Face Yoga for Glowing Skin was led by Mansi Gulati, an International Yoga exponent. A masterclass on the Practicals of Fat Loss and Back Pain by Acharya Ashish Gilhotra – Founder of Pressure Yoga. Andrea Paige, a wonderful soul and a master of lifestyle medicine led the very enlightening “Applied Epigenetics: How Do Your Daily Choices Control Gene Expression?” class.
Restorative Raja Yoga & Meditation for releasing stress and trauma by the Yogrishi Vishvketu Himalayan Yoga Master, author and founder of Akhanda Yoga also known for his infectious laughter and stories.
As the participants immersed in the wealth of knowledge, participants and global network a special class by Arindam Chakravarty on the Tablā Beats for Beginners: A Journey into Indian Rhythm” help inspire many to lean more about this musical instrument
After a short tea and Snacks to recharge the body at the golden hour the participants and presenters gathered from all across the world with their hearts and soul full of love for beautiful Ecstatic Devotional Chanting and Kirtan with Vishvambhar, an internationally recognized kirtan-singer and inspirational speaker and to perform the divine Yagna ceremony and the sacred Ganga Aarti at the banks of mother Ganga, Parmarth Niketan.
