Yoga Conference Kicks Off in Tashkent: A First for Central Asia
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, just hosted the exciting launch of the 7th International Conference on Yoga – the very first one in Central Asia! The event, themed "Yoga for One Earth One Health," brings together yoga enthusiasts from across Eurasia. Organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in partnership with the Embassy of India in Tashkent and the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan, it kicked off on Wednesday amid great enthusiasm.
The inauguration drew key figures, including Artikhodjaev Jahongir Abidovich, Chairman of the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan; Momindjanov Sharifjon Fuzailovich, Adviser from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Sports; Indian Ambassador Smita Pant; ICCR’s Deputy Director General Abhay Kumar; and reps from India’s Ministry of AYUSH. Everyone gathered to celebrate yoga’s growing role in health and wellness.
Renowned yoga expert and spiritual leader SRI M stole the show with his keynote speech on "Yoga and Consciousness." He explained how yoga serves as the ideal way to dive into the depths of human awareness – or "Chetna" in Sanskrit – making it a powerful tool for personal growth.
Ambassador Smita Pant kicked things off with warm words, highlighting yoga’s rising popularity in Uzbekistan. She pledged India’s full support for training local yoga teachers and building their skills. Pant also pointed out that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognizes yoga’s amazing benefits for both body and mind, from reducing stress to boosting fitness.
Abhay Kumar from ICCR shared his excitement, noting this marks the first time ICCR has brought an international yoga conference to Central Asia. With strong participation from 10 Eurasian countries, he believes it will inspire the younger generation in Uzbekistan and beyond to embrace yoga practices. "This event will truly popularize yoga among youth," he said.
The two-day yoga conference features delegates from India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Mongolia, and Russia. It’s part of ICCR’s annual flagship series – past editions lit up places like New York (2018), London (2019), New Delhi (2021), Seoul (2022), Meinberg in Germany (2023), and Durban (2024).
Attendees can look forward to lively sessions, including an interactive plenary on blending yoga with traditional Central Asian healing and modern medicine. Panel discussions will tackle the current state of yoga in Central Asia, its challenges and opportunities, how it helps manage chronic health issues, the latest yoga trends and innovations, and ways to build skills for yoga teachers. By the end, experts will share key recommendations with leaders from all participating countries to push yoga forward.
This yoga event in Tashkent isn’t just about poses – it’s a step toward global wellness, uniting cultures through one ancient practice. If you’re into yoga benefits or international yoga conferences, keep an eye on how this unfolds!
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