International Yoga Festival second day
From Pain to Purpose: Day 2 of the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan
More than fifty nations gather for a celebration of Yoga with a special Wisdom Talk and discourse by Shri Gauranga Das, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati ji, Brandon Bays and Kia Miller on transforming Pain into Purpose through Yoga.
Yoga classes ranging from early morning Sadhana from 4am, to sacred music, raagas, yoga, ayurveda and wellness sessions by diverse array of presenters concluding with the world famous Ganga Aarti and an enthralling live concert by the Famous Spiritual Rapper MC Yogi.
RISHIKESH: After a vibrant first day of 37th International Yoga festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami ji and blessed by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Jaya Kishori ji alongside over 1000 participants from 50 nations, 75 yoga teachers from 25 countries. The inauguration concluded with a beautiful Ganga Aarti and a the special bhakti filled evening kirtan by Gaura Vani and his team of musicians and artists. The second day of the Yoga Festival began with an early morning Sadhana from 4am was filled with diverse offerings that included sacred music, raagas, yoga, ayurveda and wellness sessions by presenters.
The day concluded with the evening Ganga Aarti, participants danced late into the evening beneath the new moon to the vibrant and ecstatic beats of MC YOGI, internationally renowned recording artist. His first three records were all #1 on the iTunes world music charts and his fifth album, Ritual Mystical, reached #1 on apple electronic music.
“Yoga isn’t what we do; it’s who we are,” said Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji. “It’s what we practice not only on the mat, but off the mat. It’s what we practice every day of life. We are in the world capital of yoga, where we were all given keys freely, with no copyrights. Take the keys wherever you are and use them to open the locks so that light may shine onto millions and millions on earth. Yoga is union. That starts with you. You are the key, you must look into yourself. we give great gratitude to that the saints and rishis and sages of Rishikesh who gave mantras to this entire world. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. That is India’s message to the world. The World is one family.”
“Yoga is that which is the answer to everything that ails our planet today,” said Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji. “Every day in the news is another opportunity to pick sides. We have conflicts based on race, skin color, political party, sexual orientation, gender. If I feel separate other people, from the planet, I bring suffering to others and the earth. Yoga isn’t the union of the nose to the knees. It’s the union of the self to the divine, and the divine in all.
Some of the brightest minds on the mind-body connection gathered for an insightful plenary on “Inner Alchemy- transforming pain into purpose,” which featured Shri Gauranga Das Prabhu ji, and other esteemed guests, emphasizing how to shift your perspective on suffering, using it as a catalyst for growth, resilience, and meaningful change.
Shri Gauranga Das Prabhu ji said ‘The mind creates and generates expectations and the gap between expectation and reality causes the pain, Krishna says if there is pain, you have to understand their is a purpose behind that pain”.
Brandon Bays beautifully added giving a scientific explanation “Part of the gift of healing journey was I was guided to find a way for all of us to go inside of our body and get access to something called cell emery. When we feel a strong emotional we suppress it, it releases a qualifying biochemistry into the blood stream that will go to certain cell receptors and block them, and if overtime illness happens, it happens in part of body where the cells are blocked. She further added, when emotions are felt freely, our cell receptors remain open.
Dr. N. Ganesh Rao, the founder of ACT Yoga who, holding a Ph.D. in Philosophy as well as multiple diplomas in Naturopathy and Yoga Education, and is a Yoga Chikatsa Acharya, led a powerful session on exploring how the sound of Om can bring peace, clarity, and balance to our lives.
“The first sutra of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra essentially means that Yoga is of the now – Yoga can only take place in the present moment.Om is the primordial sound that takes us back home to ourselves. There is great significance of OM in Yoga so it is essential for participants across the world to understand the roots and tradition of Yoga,” Dr. Rao said.
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, the disciple of Yogi Bhajan who founded Yogi Bhajan’s first yoga center in the United States, led an ecstatic cleansing our inner self class after sunrise, providing a sacred space for healing and self-reflection, helping each participant to connect more deeply to their true essence, encouraging them to release any negativity and embrace their highest potential.
Leading a powerful session Gurmukh Kaur Kalsa shared, “How much thunder you have in you, how much power you have in you, comes from the heart. The only way I’ve found to heal yourself and to heal the world is through love. Love has become overused in the West. Love isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it’s tough love. Sometimes you have to speak your truth. This comes from the navel, then it goes to your heart. Don’t be too quick to say, ‘love you, love you.’ Pause and ask yourself, ‘do I mean it, can I feel love in my soul?’ If you do, that is the thunder power of love.”
Day 2 Schedule Highlights
Participants gathered for an early morning Kundalini Sadhana class today at 4:30am with Gurushabd Singh Khalsa and progressed throughout the day with various diverse offerings from teachers all across the world, ranging from yoga, Ayurveda, wellness and several other areas. There was a powerful plenary session on the “Inner Alchemy: transforming Pain into Purpose” with Shri Gauranga Das Prabhu ji, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati ji, Brandon Bays and was moderated by Kia Miller.
Throughout the rest of the day, Following a nourishing lunch, participants were immersed in a series of different inspiring yoga sessions led by esteemed teachers, Including Bhogi to Yogi, a journey of self-transformation, and an enlightening Yoga Therapy session by Mohan Bhandari, focusing on healing through mindful movement and breath; Rhythmic Vinyasa- collective Flow for all by Shiva Rea. Participants also delved into ancient healing practices with a Yin Chakra session, uncovering the deep secrets of restoration and balance. Additional classes explored themes of discovering oneness, healing through Vinyasa, and connecting to the throat chakra, as well as a profound session that opened the gateway to the soul. Each class offered a unique path to self-discovery, healing, and spiritual growth, especially the sound healing bath session with Astrid Slegten and Sandra Barnes.
Followed by an evening Satsang, led by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji, participants were guided on a journey to dive deep into the divine truth within, experiencing a moment of profound connection to their higher selves.
After a short break for tea, participants gathered on the banks of Maa Ganga at the Parmarth Niketan along with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji, Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati ji, and renowned yogacharyas from across the world for the world famous Ganga Aarti and chanting.
After the Aarti, participants danced late into the evening beneath the new moon to the vibrant and ecstatic beats of MC YOGI, internationally renowned recording artist. His first three records were all #1 on the iTunes world music charts and his fifth album, Ritual Mystical, reached #1 on apple electronic music.
QUOTES FROM PRESENTERS & PARTICIPANTS:
Presenter Erica Kaufman who teaches Lila Yoga and was celebrating her birthday today said “I am here at Parmarth Niketan joining my beautiful family, where so many people are coming from all parts of the world to connect to the source of goodness, to let go of all the trash around in our mind and to open up the pure, come join us here at IYF, My home here away from home. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday!”
Presenter Stewart Gilchrist, Senior Registered Yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance Professional UK who has trained over 400 teachers at 200hr, 500 hr and advanced level, said “it’s all about Peace and Love. Country doesn’t matter. I have been coming to the ashram many times to teach yoga, music, dance, philosophy, history and most importantly Sanatam dharma. Sanantam Dharma is the essence of all yoga and if you come to the ashram to the festival you will keep in your practice and spiritual self and feel the real essence of yoga.
“This is my first time in IYF and very excited!” Said Yoga teacher Anisha from Australia. “Came here for a Navratri retreat with an open mind and interested in being her long term.”
“I love the environment here so much!” Said Sevak Jigar Shah. “I love connecting with people and different cultures and being able to see the different kind of session in yoga and how you can heal. I am so happy to be here and always love hearing Sadhviji Satsang videos.
