Summary of talk by Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director – Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, at the 2024 - Indo-American World Yoga Conference, 2024

Yoga, as Dr. Kashinath Samagandi emphasized in his address, is not merely a set of postures or a display of flexibility and strength. At its core, yoga is an ancient Indian lifestyle modality—a complete science of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Its purpose is not only to heal but also to preserve and promote health across all stages of life.

Drawing from his decades of work in Ayurveda, yoga, and public health, Dr. Samagandi explained that yoga remains profoundly relevant—even more so today—because it addresses challenges that modern medicine alone cannot solve.

Yoga Through Life’s Stages

Dr. Samagandi highlighted yoga’s role at different milestones of life:

• Adolescence: Hormonal changes often bring anxiety, stress, and imbalance. Yoga helps young girls during menarche and supports resilience in all teenagers.
  
  
• Youth: In an era of internet addiction, social media dependency, alcohol, and drug abuse, yoga provides prevention and recovery—offering clarity, discipline, and purpose.
  
  
• Pregnancy & Motherhood: From antenatal to postnatal stages, yoga offers safe practices for healthy pregnancy, delivery, and recovery.
  
  
• Old Age: Geriatric concerns such as digestive issues, musculoskeletal pain, menopause (and male menopause) can all be managed with yoga, supporting graceful aging and vitality.
  
  

Beyond life stages, yoga also plays a vital role in chronic ailments: diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and SLE, and even in cancer recovery—where oncologists increasingly recommend yoga alongside medical treatments.

Stress: The Modern Epidemic

No matter the profession—doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, or artist—stress has become a universal companion of modern civilization. It reduces efficiency, affects outcomes, and diminishes quality of life.

Citing the ancient text, Dr. Samagandi reminded the audience:
“Yogena chittasya vrittih nirodhah” — Yoga is mastery over the mind’s fluctuations.

In his words, yoga is not just for the body, but the science of the mind—teaching us to regulate emotions, cope with stress, and create balance in both personal and professional life.

Yoga: Science, Art, and Philosophy

Dr. Samagandi outlined three essential dimensions of yoga:

• A Science – systematic, evidence-based, and structured.
  
  
• An Art – lived through creativity, flow, and personal expression.
  
  
• A Philosophy – guiding meaning, self-realization, and inner peace.
  
  

He expressed concern over modern adaptations—beer yoga, nude yoga, aqua yoga—which, while popular, often dilute the essence of yoga.

“Yoga is not a workout. It is a work-in.”

• Not bending the body, but bonding mind and body.
  
  
• Not stretching muscles, but stretching awareness.
  
  
• Not racing, but facing ourselves.
  
  

Authenticity and Research: The Way Forward

As Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and member of the Yoga Certification Board (YCB), Dr. Samagandi underscored the importance of authenticity. YCB ensures yoga professionals are trained in the traditional system, capable of carrying yoga forward in its genuine form.

However, he stressed that authenticity must be complemented with research. While studies on asanas, pranayama, and meditation are growing, research on yoga’s foundational aspects—yamas, niyamas, mudras, bandhas, mantra yoga—remains scarce.

He called for studies on principles like satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), and santosha (contentment) as well as on the physiological effects of mudras and bandhas. Similarly, as yoga emerges as a sport, research must document its impact on agility, recovery, and endurance.

The Global Responsibility

“India gave yoga to the world,” Dr. Samagandi noted, “and it is now our responsibility—through institutions, federations, and practitioners—to ensure it is shared in its true, classical form.”

If practiced and researched authentically, yoga can help humanity achieve what we all desire: health, harmony, and happiness.

Closing Thoughts

Yoga is not merely India’s gift to the world—it is humanity’s pathway to balance. The responsibility of this generation is to practice, preserve, research, and share yoga in its truest form.

“Yoga is more than bending—it is bonding.
More than stretching—it is reaching.
More than racing—it is facing.”

Through authentic yoga, we do not just heal ourselves—we heal the world.

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