On the occasion of the 6th International Day of Yoga, the Department of Integrative Medicine and Centre for Consciousness Studies at NIMHANS have conducted multiple Tele-Yoga sessions in association with the Telemedicine center, NIMHANS to celebrate the IDY-2020 with collective spirit amidst the pandemic.

The tele-yoga sessions began 2weeks ahead of IDY-2020. Initial training sessions were held to train the trainers for conducting sessions on 21st of June 2020 as per the AYUSH guidelines. Thirty trainers were trained to conduct Tele-Yoga sessions of Common Yoga Protocol by Dr Hemant Bhargav, Assistant Professor of Yoga, Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS.

On 21st June 2020, two mass Tele-Yoga sessions were conducted at 7 AM and 4:30 PM. These sessions were led by Dr. Nishitha Jasti (Scientist-B-Yoga, Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS) and Dr. Hemant Bhargav (Assistant Professor of Yoga, Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS), respectively. We had 301 participants in 7 AM session and 390 participants in the evening session, collectively practicing the Common Yoga Protocol with us through Zoom and YouTube live web-streaming. A global webinar was also organised as an extension to the evening mass Tele-Yoga session in collaboration with the India Association of Greater Boston, USA. Dr. R. Nagarathna (Medical Director, Arogyadhama, S-VYASA University) and Padmashri Dr. B.N.Gangadhar (Director NIMHANS) enlightened the virtual gathering by speaking on ‘Yoga for Family Well-being’ and ‘Role of Yoga in promoting Mental Health’ respectively keeping in mind the AYUSH theme and thecurrent pandemic. The webinar was moderated by Dr. Shivarama Varambally (Professor of Psychiatry and Head [I/c], Department of Integrative Medicine, NIMHANS) and Dr. Aarti Jagannathan, Associate Professor of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS). Special Tele-Yoga sessions were conducted for in-patients and out-patients of NIMHANS by Dr Praveen Angadi, Dr Praerna Bhargav, Mrs. Shubha Bhat and Dr. Vedamurthachar. Additionally, a recorded video was played for in-patients in the psychiatry ward by Dr. Usha M R, Dr. Vinod and Dr. Inbaraj. A total of 94 patients participated in the virtual Yoga sessions.

All the trained trainers from the department also conducted multiple Tele-Yoga sessions for their family and friends to spread the message of yoga and its relevance in the current crisis. A total of 150 individuals participated in these sessions additionally.

Thus, a total of 935 took part and practiced the Common Yoga Protocol by the NIMHANS team on the 6th Internal Day of Yoga on 21st of June 2020.