“Ayurveda and Yoga – Where Science Meets Consciousness” will bring some of the world’s most renowned practitioners of Ayurveda and Yoga together to explore, in depth, the relationship between Ayurveda and the practice of Yoga. Combining the wisdoms of Ayurveda, the Knowledge of Life, and Yoga, the practice of which brings about the Union of Mind, Body and Soul, enables us to come to a more profound understanding and experience of physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

This conference follows on from Punarnava Ayurveda’s first international conference Where Consciousness Science Meets Consciousness, held at Mahabalipuram in India, in 2006, which attracted over 600 registrants, and contributed to by world renowned speakers from 6 countries, including Drs. Deepak Chopra and Robert Svoboda. The standard set at this first conference, and the richness of the dialogue begun there invoked an overwhelming response, and it is in this context that the discussion continues.

Ayurveda and Yoga have their origin in the Vedas, and thus share the same fundamental philosophical aims. Ayurveda’s predominant current aim is the treatment of disease, whilst Yoga has aimed at spiritual development. For communities following these lifestyles, the diet and lifestyle regimen propounded by Ayurveda was, and to some extent still is, the foundation for an all round sense of well-being. Yoga too was traditionally practiced in the context of an Ayurveda lifestyle. Today, these two sister knowledge systems have developed their own identities and would seem to have gone their separate ways. Thus, many practitioners of Yoga are unfamiliar with the principles of Ayurveda, and likewise practitioners of Ayurveda fail to appreciate the significance of integrating Yoga practice into their treatment regimes. This conference brings experts and students of both Yoga and Ayurveda together on a common platform. The aims of this conference include:

To explore the traditional unity of Ayurveda and Yoga
To help students and practitioners of Ayurveda understand Yoga
To help students and practitioners of Yoga understand Ayurveda
To highlight the benefits of integrating Ayurveda and Yoga into a comprehensive healing system
To explore Yoga therapy from an Ayurveda perspective
To show the relevance of Ayurveda in developing a comprehensive Yogic system of medicine
To interact with and be inspired by the great teachers of Ayurveda and Yoga, and
To heal ourselves and heal our planet

Keynote Presenters:
Sri Swamini Mayatitananda (Spiritual Head of Wise Earth School of Ayurveda), Dr. Pooja Bharadvaj (Director of Ayurveda, Uttarakhand State), Dr David Frawley (author, internationally known speaker, scholar on the Vedas),Shri Pattabhi Jois (internationally known Yoga teacher), Dr HR Nagendra (Vice Chancellor of Vivekananda Yoga Mahavidyapeetam), Dr JM Sampath (Life Coach), Dr. Hari Sharma (author, internationally recognized authority on Ayurveda), Dr. Robert Svoboda (author, internationally known speaker, scholar on the Vedas),Dr NV Raghuram (Vivekananda Yoga Mahavidyapeetam).

Other presenters:
Ms. Betheyla Anuradha (Senior Yoga Teacher), Ms. Rose Baudin (Senior Yoga teacher), Dr. Gopalakrishnan (Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, Thiruvananthapuram), Ms. Shakta Kaur (Kundalini Yoga teacher and CEO of the Yoga Alliance), Dr. K.P. Muraleedharan (former Principal, Jayendra Saraswathi Ayurveda College, Chennai), Dr. Rama Prasad (Ayurveda physician), Dr. P Rammanohar (Ayurveda practitioner),Shri. Mukunda Stiles (internationally known Yoga teacher), Prof S. D. Upadhyay (author, Ex-Principal, State Ayurvedic College, Varanasi), V Vasudevan (Ayurveda practitioner, teacher), Dr Claudia Welch (Ayurveda practitioner, lecturer, author).

Audience The expected 1,000-1,200 delegates from India & overseas will include Ayurveda physicians and students, Yoga teachers and students, and, individuals interested in Ayurveda and/or Yoga.

Venue:
The conference will take place at Parmarth Niketan, the largest ashram in Rishikesh. It is situated on the banks of the Mother Ganges and has been host to many international conferences. Rishikesh is in the foothills of the Himalayas, the birthplace of Ayurveda. It is also one of the most important pilgrimage sites where yogis, sages and sadhus have come for millennia. Rishikesh’s continued home to yoga makes it a destination of choice for those with a desire to delve deeper into the subject.

Accommodation:
Accommodation will be at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram and at the adjacent Vanaprastha Ashram. A wide range of accommodation is available, some of which is limited, so it recommended that accommodation of choice is reserved as soon as possible. Please e-mail for details.

Meals:
Vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided from breakfast on 21 February to lunch on 25 February, 2008, as a part of your registration package.

Conference Programme:
The conference will be made up of a number of common Keynote sessions and several break-out specialist sessions.
Our seminars are designed to provide you with a user-friendly overview of various Ayurveda topics, and to introduce you theoretically to some of Ayurveda’s most basic principles.

Other Activites:
Yoga Asana, Pranayama, Mantra and Meditation sessions, Homams and offerings on the banks of Ganga including a Dhanvantari Homam (oblation ceremony), Rudrabishekha (offering to Lord Shiva), arti (where oil lamps are floated on the river Ganga) and chanting of Mantras and devotional songs. Ayurveda therapies and Ayurveda/Yoga based lifestyle consultations. Classical Indian devotional dance, music and drama on the banks of the river Ganga.

Cultural Programme:
The spiritual nature of traditional Indian culture will be promoted through classical Indian devotional dance, music and drama which will take place on the banks of the river Ganga.

Expo:
Exhibiting booths and space will be provided for showcasing suppliers of goods and services for Ayurveda and Yoga.

Tours:
Pre- and post-conference tours to the surrounding area, including visits to important temples and sites will be offered.

Registration:
Please go to www.AyurvedaConference.com