SYTAR 2023: ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists)
Dr. Dilip Sarkar attended the sold out June 15-17, 2023 SYTAR conference in Reston, VA, where he introduced the speakers and brought a guest from India: Omanand Guruji (www.paramyoga.org) to bless the conference.
16TH ANNUAL NAMA (NATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION) CONFERENCE ON AYURVEDA & SPIRITUALITY – Online
April 24-26, 2020
Dr. Dilip Sarkar participated in the Keynote Presentation and several Panel discussions in this annual conference, including:
1. Keynote Presentation AYURVEDIC YOGA THERAPY FOR SPIRITUAL WELLNESS, Saturday evening, with Vasant Lad, Deepak Chopra and Maya Tiwari.
2. Earlier on Saturday, Panel discussion on YOGA FOR CARDIO METABOLIC DISORDER, moderated by Dhaval Dhru, MD, along with Erin Koehler and Durga Leela.
3. On Sunday, MORNING YOGA WITH DILIP – AYURVEDIC YOGA THERAPY FOR WELLNESS.
4. Sunday Closing Panel on AYURVEDIC MEDICINE COVID-19 AND REFLECTIONS ON SPIRITUAL HEALTH WITHIN A PANDEMIC, with Vamadeva Frawley, Maya Tiwari, Suhas Kshirsagar and Margrit Mikulis.
PREPARING BODY AND MIND FOR A MEDITATION PRACTICE
March 7, 2020
Dr. Sarkar led this class at the Heartfulness Meditation Center in Richmond, VA.
YOGA THERAPY FOR HEALTHY AGING
March 4, 2020
Dilip Sarkar led this presentation at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA at the annual Community Forum on Aging, organized by the Peninsula Agency on Aging. Hundreds of senior citizens, some in wheel chairs, participated in the chair yoga. The big convention room was completely full, with standing room only, indicating a high level of interest in Yoga Therapy by community senior citizens.
YOGA THERAPY TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE MUSCLE RELAXATION, BALANCE AND BREATHING FOR SINGERS AND DANCERS
February 22, 2020
Dilip Sarkar, MD, FACS, D.Litt (Yoga) gave this presentation at the Symphony Sargam, Yoga, Music and Dance Studio, Dubai.
Yoga Therapy Retreat 9 (YTR)
February 16, 2020
Based on the theme “Designing Your Health: The Power of Prevention,” Dilip Sarkar, MD, FACS, C-IAYT, D.Litt (Yoga) was joined by Abha Gupta, PhD and C-IAYT; Saghana Chakrabortty, MD and C-IAYT;
Sastry Topalli, MD; Ganapati Myneni, PhD and C-IAYT; and Aruna Swarup, C-IAYT in a full day of informative presentations and helpful demonstrations during the 9th Taksha Yoga Therapy Retreat.
India Fest 2019
November 23, 2019
Yoga demonstration at India Fest Virginia Beach (VA) Convention Center, Nov. 23, 2019
Chesapeake Health Camp in Hindu temple, Chesapeake, VA
May 4, 2019
Dr. Dilip Sarkar led a Yoga Therapy session at Chesapeake Health Camp on May 4, 2019 in service to an annual “Day of Giving” to the Hampton Roads Community. This free medical clinic (dental, vision, and general health) was conducted by the Remote Area Medical Clinic (AAPI-HR Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin) and the Hindu Temple of Hampton Roads, along with the help of 450 dedicated volunteers.
Local Yoga Therapy Group Celebrates 10th Anniversary Together in April
April 6, 2019
About 45 friends, students, and organizers of the weekly yoga therapy sessions that convene on Sunday evenings at the Olde Point Cove Clubhouse in Poquoson, Virginia gathered together on the evening of April 6, 2019 to share a festive and celebratory meal. The occasion marked the tenth year of yoga fellowship organized and served over time by Adarsh and Pat Deepak, Dilip Sarkar, Abha Gupta, Ganapati Myneni, and others. Adding to the enjoyment of the gathering was the opportunity to see and reconnect with friends and acquaintances who had not been regular attendees in recent years!
Dr. Abha Gupta Speaks on “Yoga for Healthy Aging” at PAA’s 2019 Forum
March 6, 2019
Dr. Gupta was the invited speaker on “Yoga Therapy for Healthy Aging” at the Community Forum on Aging sponsored by the Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA) on March 6, 2019 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. She conducted a chair-yoga session for about 300 registered people from various walks of life.
Live WTKR (Channel 3) Presentation
February 5, 2018
WTKR (Channel 3) broadcast a live presentation by Dr. Sarkar on Yoga Therapy for Health and Healing on “Coast Live,” with Ann Perkins, Support Group Coordinator of the American Parkinson Disease Association, HR Chapter, and Rick Spencer of CA Wordsmith.
Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education & Clinical Center Event
January 25, 2018
Norfolk, VA
The Medical College of Virginia’s McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center invited Dr. Sarkar to speak on Yoga Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.
20th Anniversary Celebration of Yoga
January 13, 2018
Washington, DC
Dr. Sarkar was invited as a guest speaker to the at Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT).
7th Annual Taksha Yoga Therapy Retreat (YTR7)
February 5, 2017
Chesapeake, VA
Led by Dr. Dilip Sarkar, YTR7 focused on “Daily Yogic Routine – Dinacharya: The Preventive Medicine,” through a combination of lectures, presentations, and interactive practice demonstrations by Dr. Sarkar and guest speakers, featuring Dr. Amrita (Sandra) McLanahan, M.D.
International Yoga Day (IYD) Celebrations in Washington, DC
June 21, 2015
First International Yoga Day Celebration in the US – National Mall, Washington, DC, on June 21, 2015
Dr. Sarkar on the ‘big screen,” addressing the crowd at the US IYD event, June 21, 2015.
Dr. Dilip Sarkar at the First International Day of Yoga at National Mall in Washington D.C. in June. The event, which was sponsored by the Embassy of India, Washington D.C., and Friends of Yoga, saw Dr. Sarkar and Ambassador of India in US, Arun Singh, opening registration for Worldwide Certification Exams by CYAI (Council for Yoga Accreditation International), introducing Dance Yoga and yoga teacher training for Patanjali Yogpeeth.
Left to Right: Drs. Abha Gupta, Adarsh Deepak, Rajan Narayanan, H.R. Nagendra, Dilip Sarkar, and Alex Hankey. (Photo taken by Pat Deepak at the home of Adarsh and Pat Deepak in Poquoson, VA.)
Taksha Institute (TI) Hosts Distinguished Faculty of SVYASA, India
September 2-3, 2013
In September 2013, Dr. H. R. Nagendra (center), a former space scientist at NASA and Harvard consultant and the current Vice-Chancellor and director of the premier yoga research university, S-VYASA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana), visited the Virginia Hampton Roads area to present current research on yoga and health, where he met with some of the editorial team members of Yoga Setu. Accompanying Dr. Nagendra was Dr. Alex Hankey, a distinguished physicist and researcher of Vedic Sciences at SVYASA.
With the aim of reaching out to the global yoga community, Dr. Nagendra had stopped by Hampton Roads for a day to connect with yoga practitioners and share his wisdom and views on the Integrated Approach to Yoga Therapy (IAYT).
Dr. Nagendra, a former space scientist at NASA, returned to his native India, changing his field from engineering to human engineering “in search of truth,” as he says. According to him, the search for the ultimate truth through external means (science) did not take him far enough, and that is why he chose to dive deep into his own consciousness in search of reality through yoga. He then proceeded to combine the best of the East with the best of the West, as the venerated yogi Swami Vivekananda had envisioned.
In 1975, with the ideals of Swami Vivekananda in mind, Dr. Nagendra established the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation (S-VYASA), which, by now, has published over 200 research papers on yoga and its applications. Along with its research program, S-VYASA also includes a unique Yoga Therapy Health Center that includes both a residential facility and a Yoga University for student training .
During his visit, Dr. Nagendra shared clinical research reports on the positive effects of prāṇāyāma (yogic restricted breathing) techniques and āsana-s on patients with asthma, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic disorders and cancer. He emphasized a holistic way of treating diseases and preventing ailments to promote positive health.
The thought-provoking lectures presented by Drs. Nagendra and Hankey were truly enlightening for the 25 plus yoga enthusiasts who attended.
Acknowledgements: The visit of Drs. Nagendra and Hankey was coordinated by Dr. Dilip Sarkar, Chairman of TI School of Integrative Medicine (SIM), with the help of Dr. Rajan Narayanan (TI Professor, and Executive Secretary, Life in Yoga) who drove our distinguished guests from Washington DC for dinner and lectures at the home of TI Chairman, Dr. Adarsh Deepak and his wife Pat Deepak, in Poquoson, VA. Our guests were hosted by Dr. Dilip and Shikha Sarkar at their home in Norfolk.
~ Abha Gupta, Ph.D., Editor, YSN