Evidence-based research in Yoga
The promotion of evidence-based research in Yoga has been accorded high priority and cooperation with prestigious institutions like AIIMS has been prioritised under the work policy to integrate basic science and high standards of modern medicine in Yoga research.
An excellent example of this work policy is the Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research (CIMR) at AIIMS, New Delhi, which is funded under the Centre of Excellence Scheme of the Ministry of Ayush. It has obtained excellent research outcomes in the field of integrative treatment of various disorders by using Yoga.
Similar collaborative research efforts through the autonomous body under the Ayush ministry, the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) include yoga therapy in mental health, Covid- 19, heart diseases and cancer. Collaborating institutions include NIMHANS Bengaluru, AIIMS Rishikesh,HSC Group of Cancer Hospitals, Indian Association for Palliative Care and Indian Cancer Society etc.
The decision taken by the union cabinet in March 2020 for running 12500 Ayush health and wellness centres under the Ayushman Bharat scheme is an essential step in learning Yoga and making enhanced public access to its therapeutic benefits throughout the country. These health and wellness centres will be established in phases from 2019-20 to 2023-24. These will set up and create a holistic well-being model based on the principles and practices of Ayush in order to reduce expenditure. Yoga will be an important part of this activity and many yoga professionals will be appointed for this. To make it functional, approval has been given for nearly 4000 health and wellness centres for states/UT, and their set-up is under progress.
The Ministry is finalising and implementing a universal project, “Yoga for All” aimed at reaching the entire population of India in the next five years. The effectiveness of Yoga in increasing productivity is well known, but this capability of Yoga has not been harnessed fully. From farmers to professors, people from all walks of life can adopt Yoga to perform their daily tasks better and more efficiently.
The aim of the “Yoga for All” programme is to take yoga to every single family. It aims to train at least one member from each family in 75,000 selected villages as a regular Yoga practitioner by 15th August 2022. This programme will subsequently cover the entire country by 2025-26.
To achieve this objective, the Ministry of Ayush will prepare an extensive calendar of Yoga training programmes in association with various stakeholders, including participating ministries, and with the help of state governments.