Mumbai: Maa Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, Director, The Yoga Institute, Mumbai has been selected as the new President of the Indian Yoga Association (IYA).The decision was taken at the 7th General Body meeting held online on February 19, 2022, at 11 am.

Indian Yoga Association – A self-regulatory Body of Yoga Organizations came into existence on 31st October 2008. The large and united family of IYA has as many as 42 Member Institutions, 123 Associate Centres, and 9 International Associates.

IYA aims at promoting and advancement of Yoga and its applications. IYA also prescribes different courses for imparting education and training in Yoga, syllabus and curriculum for various Yoga education, therapy, and training courses and programmes, and also to prescribe guidelines to carry out research in Yoga and its applications at various levels.

Dr. Hansaji said, “ I am honored to have been elected president of IYA. Yoga is my way of life, and I’ve witnessed its transformative power not only in my own life but also in the lives of millions of others I have met at The Yoga Institute or at global events. The fast-paced world needs the therapeutic benefits of yoga to overcome daily stress and physical ailments. Yoga is a holistic approach that can help us all overcome many modern-day problems such as obesity, chronic sleep deprivation, mental stress, and much more. This position has a significant amount of responsibility in terms of spreading the goodness and wellness of yoga to every home across the world. And, as always, I will continue my effort diligently on this mission. My vision and goal is to see India take the command in terms of yoga alliance and standardization norms. Yoga originated in India, so these rules and regulations must be established here as well.”

An epitome of grace and wisdom, Dr. Hansaji is a global symbol of peace, balanced living, and yoga. To date, she has conducted more than 50,000 powerful sessions on yoga, wellness, and mental health and personally counseled a million people with her deep wisdom.

She is on the board of multiple national and international committees in charge of devising yoga syllabi and shaping yoga policy worldwide. With her deep wisdom and profound experience, she has designed special techniques, specific health, and well-being camps, unique sessions to transform the lives of people of all ages and with varied life-related problems and ailments.

Recognizing the philanthropic work done under her guidance, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, felicitated The Yoga Institute with the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga. Smt. Hansaji J Yogendra has also been honored with the Bharat Gaurav Award at the UK House of Commons in British Parliament in London for extraordinary contribution to, and excellence in, the field of yoga.

The Yoga Institute was established in 1918 by legendary yoga guru Shri Yogendraji, also known as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance, and celebrated its centenary milestone on 25 December 2018. The 100 years celebration was attended by Shri Ramnath Kovind – The President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu – The Vice President of India. It is a non-profit organization and the oldest organized center for Yoga in the world. The Institute has a long legacy of carrying out ground-breaking work in the field of yoga, including the “householder yoga” movement, along with several social initiatives such as Annam Brahma (free meals for the underprivileged), free medical health camps, blood donation drive, military, and police holistic health programs, municipal and western railway staff wellness programs and much more.