Relavance of Ayurveda has increased and it is time to bring back Ayurveda and other traditional healing to the mainstream.
Two very interesting and highly educative panel discussions – Increased Relevance of Ayurveda and Traditional Healing in today’s world and Corporate Wellness – Key to Business Success were held at Bangaluru recently. Many eminent personalities from the wellness, corporate and arts and music domains participated ; were being held as the part of AyurDNA Wellness & Healing inauguration and website launch. AyurDNA introduces corporate wellness programs for the Indian market.
Increased Relevance of Ayurveda and Traditional Healing in today’s world
The first panel discussed the Increased Relevance of Ayurveda and Traditional Healing in today’s world. Participating in the discussions, Dr.Issac Mathai emphasised the need for the world to recognise the importance of ancient healing systems of India like Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation and other traditional healing methods and the need for genuine and authentic practitioners to be identified and recognised for the benefit for mankind. He also emphasised the need to explore the highly effective preventive properties of Ayurveda for boosting immune systems and going back to the basics of “Dinacharya” (daily routines) and RithuCharya (Seasonal Discipline} for a heathy life.“
The next panellist, Mr. Aneish Kumar K, Non Executive Chairman, Clearsynth Labs & Former MD & Country Manager of The Bank of New York Mellon, India, an expert on medical research traditional medicine, said “ Sadly our ancient traditional healing systems like Ayurveda, naturopathy and herbal remedies have been pushed to the corner in the last century and some of us have forgotten about their existence . They are an extensive knowledge base on preventive care. The importance of immunity building for epidemic management has been emphasised in the ancient Charaka Samhita, dating back 3000 years. During this Covid pandemic, many of us are resorting to local prophylactic measures like kashayams, hot water gargling and steam inhalations, all of them described in Ayurveda for respiratory illnesses centuries ago!”
Mr. Madhavan Nambiar, a renowned former civil servant, corporate advisor and a Yoga practitioner trained under Swami Rama Yoga of the Himalayas, quoted Adi Shankara’s famous lines Satsangatve “nissangatvam, Nissangatvenirmohatvam, Nirmohatvenischalatattvam, Nischalatattvejeevanmukthi” meaning “Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment there arises freedom from delusion; through freedom from delusion there arises steadfastness; through steadfastness, there arises liberation in life”, while emphasizing the need for people to take up Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda for health and well-being and at the same time the need for initiatives like AyurDNA to look at standardization and accreditation of practitioners and stay away from street corner Yogis and similar shady set ups to ensure one’s well-being.
Ms Shailu Suresh, who hails from a family steeped in Ayurveda and traditional healing and Founder, Om Vedic Heritage Centre, Singapore and Advisor to AyurDNA, quoted Kalidasa’s lines “Shariramadhyamkhaludharmasadhanam” translated as “ everybody needs to be fit and healthy to lead a life of righteousness and our own Dharma” . She went on to emphasize the need for all of us to value the extensive knowledge passed onto us from centuries and derive the complete potential disease burden of countries. She questioned the craze to run after the western ways and cultures and suggested we follow ancestral practices of food, lifestyle and time to get back to our Shastras and bring back balance with yourself and Nature.” She also said it is time to bring back Ayurveda and other traditional healing to the mainstream by countries and support modern medicine in prevention and recovery.
Ms Nithya Rajendran, Indian Classical Singer & Founder Music Vruksh discussed the need for all of us to embrace traditional Indian culture and values through Indian Classical music and become awakened to its spiritual and transformative potential. She emphasised the need to look inwards and heal the spirit to in turn enable healing of mind and body. This is where Indian classical music’s therapeutic effects come into play at four levels she said– spiritual, emotional, mental and physical. At the level of spirit, music enables more inward awareness , at the level of the mind it enables states of calmness and happiness, at the level of the emotions it enables cathartic release of negative emotive energies and at the level of the body has positive effects on the brain chemicals, motor and vascular functions. She mentioned music’s ability to capture a complex gamut of emotions because of the nuanced notes raagas can produce.
Corporate Wellness – Key to Business Success
The second panel discussion on Corporate wellness saw four eminent personalities discuss the crucial need for mental and emotional well-being for organizations and employees alike.
Maj. Gen. Anil P. Dere, Indian Army veteran and Advisor – AyurDNA, highlighted the concerns of employees, many of them facing a bleak future with job security issues and the lack of social space. He suggested that they learn how to find discipline and routine in everyday life, where Work from Home (WFH) has blurred work-home boundaries, leading to physical, mental and emotional issues. He emphasized the need for leaders to play a key role in mitigating the problems of their employees. When asked how the regimen in the armed forces can be a model for corporate wellness, Maj. Gen. Dere emphasized the need for a pattern or routine in day to day life, with clear time for each activity., manage your work and physical fitness …have boundaries especially when working from home…
Dr. Rathi Jafer, Director InKo Centre (The Indo-Korean Cultural and Information Centre) agreed with the moderator that we are at a watershed moment in our lives and that the pandemic has made us hit pause button, forcing us to examine how we do things and manage the new phenomenon “Phygital” emerging where physical and digital worlds are merging. She also highlighted the need for organizations to embrace the 3 C’s: Communication direct, clear not open to interpretation and regular consistent communication; Compassion – managers to rearrange and readjust, emotionally agile to meet new challenges facing employees; Connectedness, where people are not working in silos and in isolation. “No man is an island”, Rathi quoted John Donne as she highlighted the need for employees to feel wanted and valued, to make them comfortable. She also mentioned the 3 P’s – Predilection of the way things are done, Productivity through happy teams, leading to Prosperity all around.
Ms Vasundhara Das, singer, facilitator and partner – Drumjam said that unlike many other events in the past, the Covid pandemic has impacted every aspect of one’s life, leading to great stress and emotional, physical and mental issues all around. She drew upon the fact that Indian culture has had immense head start on other countries in terms of Ayurveda, Yoga and other traditional healing methodologies, yet we are faced with a large number of anxiety and mental illness cases. She emphasized that music, sound and rhythm can play a big role in staying calm and breathing as the extension of breathing can help one stay focused and cope with challenges. Being at peace with yourself helps adapt. “Develop a routine and listen to your body” were her remarks.
Anita Belani, Co-Founder and Director, Emotionally explained the evolution of the corporate employee from being one size fits all to one size fits one phenomenon today. The pandemic has caught many organizations napping and few were prepared for the seismic shift in the dynamics of Human Capital during Covid. Leaders now have to think on their feet and out of the box, as new challenges like WFH and other complexities are leading to mental, physical and emotional issues. While employers have onerous challenges in managing the new norm, it is entirely the employee’s responsibility to take charge of one’s career and life. Leaders and employees would now have to be adaptive, innovative and creative, we are seeing a big cultural shift in organizations due to the pandemic. Employee expectations have changed and to remain relevant they have to start to think like business people and build relationships internally and externally.
About AyurDNA: Mr Gopinath Nair, Founder & President of AyurDNA and Ms Suma Nair, Co-Founder and Vice President, have set their sights on taking AyurDNA from a start up to a world class organization to reckon with, in the wellness industry (US$ 2 Trillion of the 4.5 Trillion total market). AyurDNA’s focus is on all traditional and natural wellness and healing disciplines. Their services and products would encompass an entire array, from Ayurveda to Yoga, from Acupuncture to Reiki and Naturopathy and Mind Healing through various forms of counselling and interventions. With an emphasis and sharp focus on quality and accreditation, globally famous Ayurvedic and Holistic wellness brands like Soukya and the CGH properties have already partnered with AyurDNA.
