Rejuvenate your body and spirit at the Yoga and Wellness Zone at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre during PBD 2018
Celebrating the rich heritage of Yoga and Ayurveda in India and highlighting their global popularity, the regional ASEAN India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2018 is showcasing the ancient Indian art and medical science in a parallel event during the two-day festival.
A joint effort by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the High Commission of India in Singapore, the PBD will celebrate 25 years of ASEAN-India partnership, and will explore centuries-old cultural, social, and human links under the theme ‘Ancient Route, New Journey: Diaspora in the Dynamic ASEAN India Partnership’ on January 6 and 7, 2018, at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre in the Lion City.
Amidst panel discussions, cine and literature fests, youth competitions and keynote addresses by eminent leaders in politics, business and academics, including the External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj and Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Yoga and Wellness zone will be set up to showcase the research into the two disciplines and to create awareness about their utility in modern life.
Day 1: Yoga Workshops
(Hall – Roselle Jr Rooms 1 & 2, Level 4, SANDS Ballroom, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre)
Delegates will have free access to a Health and Wellness zone, where they can explore healing pods, reflect in the meditation space, learn about Ayurveda, and also learn different yoga practices over the course of the festival. The zone will open at 9am on the first day with a yoga session, and will explore the possibilities and therapeutic benefits of Indian medicine through several yoga and meditation workshops conducted by studios in Singapore. These sessions include Breathing Exercises by Art of Living, Yoga by Isha Foundation, Yoga therapy by Vyasa Yoga and Real Yoga, Meditation by Heartfulness Meditation, among others.
UPA YOGA – By Isha Foundation (8:45am-9:30am)
The workshop is set to kick off the Yoga and Wellness event on the morning of January 6. Upa Yoga is a simple yet powerful set of 10 practices that activate the joints, muscles and energy system, bringing ease to the whole system. Based on a sophisticated understanding of the body’s mechanics, Upa Yoga dispels inertia in the body’s energy and brings ease to the whole system, creating an instant sense of alertness and liveliness.
YOGA THERAPY FOR BACK PAIN – By Vyasa Yoga (11:15am –12:00pm)
Any yogic technique used to systematically address physical injury or pain, or mental and emotional stress or trauma is considered Yoga Therapy. Vyasa Yoga therapists will guide participants through asana and breathing to show poses that help alleviate back pain.
PRANAYAMA WORKSHOP – By Art of Living (12:30pm -1:00pm, 1:15pm-1:45 pm)
Pranayama = Prana (vital life force) + Yama (to control) refers to the art of controlling one’s breath, or life force, and is a well-documented practice in Indian history. It has been scientifically proven that a calming and controlled breath can lower anxiety and stress. When practiced correctly, a controlled breathing pattern can support the parasympathetic nervous system and activate what is commonly known as the "relaxation response".
MEDITATION WORKSHOP – By Heartfulness Meditation (4:00pm -5:00pm)
Meditation has been a practice endorsed by therapists, medical professionals and health experts for various reasons. The benefits of meditation are endless, and they all begin with deep relaxation and help you feel centred.
YIN YOGA – By Real Yoga (2:00pm -2:45pm)
In a session conducted by its founder Saumik Bera, the possibility of Yin Therapy offering a holistic approach to counter both physical and emotional imbalances using a combination of various ‘yin’ techniques will be explored. The session will delve progressively into the therapeutic benefits of Yin Yoga.
Day 2: Wellness Discussions
(Hall – Roselle Jr Rooms 1 & 2, Level 4, SANDS Ballroom, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre)
The second day will begin with an Ayurveda Conference organised by the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association of Singapore (APAS), a society of qualified Ayurveda practitioners and regulators in Singapore. Padmashri awardee Dr PR Krishna Kumar (MD AVP), the Chancellor, Avinashilingam University will kick off the conference.
Dr Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, AYUSH, is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address, with presentations from Dr David Frawley, Founder Director, American Institute of Vedic studies (APAS) and Dr P Ram Manohar MD (Ay) Research Director, Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda to follow.
After a break, a panel discussion on Alternative Healing Modalities and Integrated Medicine will explore the effect of therapies and treatments such as Ayurveda and Acupuncture, Reiki and Reflexology in fighting ailments and diseases and relieving pain.
The concluding event is a Fireside chat with leading Indian nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, the author of five best-selling books, hosted by Kavita Chandran, the editor of Yoga Journal, a health and wellness publication in Singapore. The session will allow Diwekar to share her nutrition practices and the influence and importance of yoga in her life.