Los Angeles witnessed the world’s first yoga university outside India. This was launched on the 6th International Yoga day. They offer programs which involves a combination of scientific principles and modern approaches to the ancient Indian practice.
The Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) was jointly inaugurated by the by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on External Affairs P P Chaudhary. This event was held virtually on Tuesday at the Consulate General of India in New York.
The first chairman of VaYU is the famous yoga guru Dr HR Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA).
Mr. Muraleedharan said during the launch that the university gives us the message of the universal brotherhood from the US. This is the first yoga university placed outside India. He also said that America will broadcast the message of yoga to the world.
Yoga provides peace and a state of mental balance. It unites the people to form peace and generates a healthy ambiance.
This event was hosted by the Consulate General and Jaipur Foot USA Chairperson and founding director of VaYU Prem Bhandari.
Nagendra, a yoga consultant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed in a speech that Swami Vivekananda proclaimed the grandeur of Indian yoga dimension to the world in his famous speech in Chicago in 1893.
The process of bringing up the yoga into the academics was inspired by the solutions given by Swami Vivekananda.
Nagendra mentioned that the university brings inn the best of the East and West. He said that “Best of the East is yoga and its applications and best of West is modern scientific research. We want to bring this integrated dimension of healthcare to the world at large – allopathy and the AYUSH systems.”
New York has deep associations with yoga as Swami Vivekananda wrote a book in the city mentioning yoga and its advantages. This popularised the Indian practise all over the world.
Chakravorty said that, the book helped in making the US to adopt the principles of yoga. He also appreciated the efforts of Nagendra and Bhandari for the initiative.
Further the university will involve the research principles associated with yoga and will popularise the practice in America. Currently around 40 million people practice yoga regularly.
Bhandari said that Swami Vivekananda was a monk who introduced Hinduism to the western world. Now Dr H R Nagendra is bringing to the western world the age-old yoga science – Guru-Shishya Parampara by establishing this university
He also mentioned that this university will bring in peace and makes Earth a better place to live in. This establishes good connections between India and the Us.
Chaudhary mentioned the human body takes care of the immune system and fights against the diseases. It is the mind that we have to take care. Establishing a proper bridge between the mind and body is very essential.
He also mentioned that this university will help yoga teachers in the US. He highlighted that Prime Minister Modi was the main key in getting the UN to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga.
Many eminent yoga masters noted their point and appreciation in the inauguration of the VaYU.
Former Director-General of Border Security Force K K Sharma mentioned that yoga is the best practice for improving the state of physical and mental health. The university collaborates with other universities and provides the best courses for you. It also offers the master’s program in yoga. The applications are open now and the first day commences in August 24 in a virtual mode.
The university was launched after receiving official recognition from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, California, in November 2019.