Integrative Medicine, Yoga and Ayurveda Converge on Day Four of the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan

Pauri Rishikesh World Yoga
RW Media
March 12, 2025
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9
16 minutes read

Day 4 of the International Yoga Festival featured a powerful plenary session on Ancient and Modern Secrets to Health and Healing – Part 2. Experts including Dr. Edison De Mello, Ramkumar, Maria Alejandra Avcharian, Dr. Krushna Naram, and Ganga Nandini shared their insights, with Stewart Gilchrist moderating the session.

The day concluded with a vibrant cultural performance, Colours of India, presented by the renowned dance company Nrityavali, adding a touch of artistic brilliance to the festival’s spiritual and wellness journey.
RISHIKESH: The fourth day of the 37th annual International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan saw approximately 1,200 yogis from 75 countries, united under one banner of health and wellness. After a powerful evening Ganga Aarti with the Hon’ble Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Ganesh Joshiji visiting and inviting everyone to Mussoorie and welcoming them to visit more of the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand. He also emphasized that in addition to the state being rich in medicinal herbs it is also rich in millets. It was shared with him that the participants of the Festival are getting millets from Uttarakhand in their breakfast every morning. Singer, song-writer and famous rapper Raja Kumar also joined Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji.for the Aarti and offered a very powerful performance of her new album from Kashi to Kailash, bringing participants to their feets in divine dancing and sacred movement.
The fourth day of the Festival built of the energy of the previous days with early morning yoga sadhana followed by diverse class offerings and a nutritious millet rich breakfast unfolded into an enlightening Wisdom Talk Spiritual Plenary session before lunch, delving deeper on the theme “Ancient and Modern Secrets to Health and Healing” from the previous day.
The session featured an extraordinary lineup of esteemed speakers, each bringing their unique expertise to the table: Dr. Edison De Mello, a renowned integrative medicine expert and founder of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine, bridging the gap between Western science and holistic healing;
Dr. Edison De Mello emphasized the limitations of allopathic medicine, stating:
“The problem with allopathic medicine is how it’s practiced. There is nothing beyond—right in front of them is the disease, and they forget to look into the patient’s eyes and empower them. The knowledge doesn’t lie within me, but within them.”
He also highlighted the boundless potential of integrating allopathic medicine with Eastern wisdom, emphasizing that together, they can transcend limitations.
Ramkumar, prominent Ayurvedacharya, leading Punarnava Ayurveda in Coimbatore – South India and its Vaidyagrama Ayurvedic Centre; Maria Alejandra Avcharian, an Ayurvedic medicine therapist and plastic artist; Dr. Krushna Naram, a well-known practitioner of Ayurveda and an expert in traditional healing methods from a lineage of Vaidyacharyas, Ganga Nandini, who has been in service, teaching, studying and practicing Yoga at Parmarth Niketan for over 14 years.
Ganga Nandini shared the immense storehouse of knowledge that gets tapped into when one stays in a sacred space like Rishikesh and dedicates their life to health, healing and service. She shared her own journey from an auto-immune disorder like Lupus and then to finding Yoga, Wellness and a purpose filled life as the medium to true health and wellness which lies in holistic living. She shared the powerful impact of seva and encouraged all participants to truly strive to live Yoga.
The session was moderated by Stewart Gilchrist, a Scottish senior yoga teacher and practitioner from London, known for his extensive training in various styles of yoga, particularly his expertise in traditional ashtanga yoga and its therapeutic applications.
This powerful gathering reaffirmed the festival’s ongoing commitment to bridge the seemingly divide between allopathic medicine, ayurveda and yoga for true holistic living and wellness. Each of the speakers emphasised on how their own journey with pursuing health and wellness has brought them to India and how being in India and on the holy banks of Maa Ganga greatly enhances their ability to be channels of health and wellness across the world.
The evening concluded with another incredible and musical Ganga Aarti with a special kirtan by Artist Gurnimit Singhji followed by a vibrant evening cultural performance titled “Colours of India” by Nrityavali, a special dance presentation highlighting the diverse and rich folk cultural traditions of India. The name ‘Nrityavali’ is derived from the “Nritya” (dance) and “Avali” (series or legend), symbolizing a rich tradition of storytelling through dance.” Founded by acclaimed Indian performing artists Mr. Bharat Bariya and Mr. Akshay Patel, Nrityavali is an independent dance company focused on emotive storytelling through dance.
Pujya Swamiji shared in the evening Ganga Aarti, “Don’t just do yoga, be yoga, it means every action we are acting from a remembrance of union. When my stomach is hungry, I feed it. We take care of ourselves. Real karma yoga is action in which I am aware every single empty tummy on this planet is mine. That every single aching being on this planet is me. That there is no separation, we are one. And therefore, we serve.”
Pujya Sadhviji also shared her wisdom, reminding everyone that Rishikesh is the sacred land of yoga—a place where the rich diversity of yoga lineages is honored. She emphasized: “Rishikesh is the land of yoga, and at our festival, we honor many lineages of yoga. Yoga is one of the most powerful paths to attain union, oneness, realization, moksha, and enlightenment—especially through the practice of karma yoga.”
Their words served as a powerful reminder for people to focus on becoming better versions of themselves, urging everyone to unite rather than remain fragmented.
DAY 4 SCHEDULE Highlights:
The morning of Day 4 of the International Yoga Festival began with participants gathering for meditation, different types of yoga and divine music and performances.
The morning classes included Gurushabd Singh Khalsa, who is a spiritual teacher, practitioner, and leader within the Sikh and Kundalini Yoga communities. He is known for his teachings in Kundalini Yoga, meditation, and Sikh philosophy, often focusing on personal transformation, mindfulness, and the power of spiritual practice; Kia Miller a renowned yoga teacher, practitioner, and spiritual guide best known for her expertise in Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Flow; Stewart Gilchrist who focuses on aligning physical postures with mindful breathwork and meditation, encouraging a holistic approach to yoga that integrates body mind and spirit and Sudhanshu Sharma leading her students in engaging with sunrise chanting;
Later in the day, Shiva Rea taught the sacred flow for women and feeling that positive energy; Sensei Sandeep Desai teaches Qigong to heal and energize the body, mind, and spirit. Drawing from ancient Chinese practices, he integrates Qigong’s gentle movements, breathwork, and meditation techniques to help students restore balance and vitality. His approach focuses on cultivating the flow of energy (Qi) within the body, enhancing overall well-being, and promoting physical healing. Through his teachings, Sensei Sandeep Desai empowers individuals to strengthen their energy, reduce stress, and improve mental clarity; Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa diving for the Blue Pearl session, designed to help individuals connect deeply with their inner essence, drawing from the teachings of Kundalini Yoga focusing on meditation, breath work and movement; and many other wonderful sessions.
After a light and nutritious lunch, Dr. Edison De Mello and Maria Alejandra Avcharian, experts in health and yoga, guided students in discovering peace from within. They emphasized the importance of making mindful lifestyle choices to enhance our well-being, particularly through the foods we consume, and encouraged seeking the divine within, even in the modern context. By blending ancient wisdom with contemporary insights, they illuminated the path to self-discovery, inspiring students to form a deeper, more meaningful connection with themselves and their health.
We also had Mohan Bhandari on the mat teaching his session on immune resilience: Yoga for immunity and enhancement. In this session, Mohan guided participants through specific yoga practices designed to strengthen the immune system, boost vitality, and enhance overall health. By combining breathwork, asanas, and mindful movement, he empowered students to build resilience in both body and mind, helping them cultivate a stronger, more balanced immune response. His teachings inspired a deeper understanding of the body’s innate healing power and how yoga can support immunity and well-being.
QUOTES FROM PRESENTERS & PARTICIPANTS:
Internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Seane Corn, from the United States, who has been presenting at IYF for many years shared, “One of the things I love about coming to IFY is the sense of community. In this time of division and conflict we can’t forget to share the value of yoga to transcend the sense of independence and separation that exists. It’s remarkable how many different cultures and yogic lineages come together here. I recommend students get out of their comfort zones and learn from teachers they haven’t experienced before. You never know what teacher or what teaching will give you the medicine you need to transcend what holds you back. This is the transformation most needed for the planet and it might just change your whole life.”
Rohan Maclaren, from Australia, is volunteering for his third IYF this year, and had this to share: “I’m volunteering as a sevak because when I came to an ashram in India, and immersed myself in this priceless yogic tradition, I truly began to welcome the divine into my life. It is my sincere hope that everyone who comes to the Festival receives this touch that is available here and leaves uplifted and transformed.”
Anjali Dabhi, from London, a sevak at Parmarth Niketan Ashram shared “I love Rishikesh. I have been coming since a young age now and I can’t think of anywhere else I want to be. There are so many holiday destinations but I always choose Rishikesh. One of the reasons I love IYF is because it brings everyone together and you can meet people from different parts of the world. Being here feels like my home and everyone is like family.