ICCR organises International Yoga Conference in South Africa’s Durban

Durban [South Africa], June 30 (ANI): The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with High Commission of India in Pretoria and Consulate General of India in Durban in collaboration with S-VYASA, Deemed University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India and University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa hosted a two day International Yoga Conference at Senate Chambers, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban on June 27-28.

The goal of organising this conference is to address the connection between yoga and a yogic-based lifestyle, including personal hygiene in physical and mental well-being, diet and physiological counselling in management, and to shed light on scientific evidence related to yoga, immunity, and respiratory health, according to ICCR press release.

According to the press release, ICCR has been organising the International Yoga Conference every year around International Day of Yoga. Previously, ICCR has organised the International Yoga Conference in New York (2018), London (2019), Virtual (2021), Seoul (2022) and Germany (2023). It was the sixth of such International conferences and the first one held in Africa.

The inaugural session included a welcome address by Neil Anthony Koorbanally, Professor of Organic Chemistry, College Dean of Research, at the University of Kwazulu-Natal.

The High Commissioner of India in South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, and ICCR Director General, Kumar Tuhin, delivered his remarks at the event. BR Ramakrishna, Pro-Chancellor, SVYASA and Thelma John David, Consul General in Durban made brief remarks.

The conference included presentations and panel discussions on “Yoga in Africa: Current status and future potential” which was moderated by Anil Chutrugoon, Dean of Research, School of Health Sciences, where NK Manjunath Sharma, VC, S-VYASA, Mennaallah Hesham Amin Aly from Egypt, Marisa Buffone, Chairman of WC, BKS Iyengar, South Africa, Western Cape, Ansuyah Moodley, Yoga Instructor, Durban, also witnessed the panel discussion.

The second panel discussion post lunch was moderated by BR Ramakrishna, Pro-Chancellor, S-VYASA University on “Yoga for Self and Society” and Mariam Mohamed Marx, Tanzania