ASIA PACIFIC YOGA THERAPY ASSOCIATION
Dr. H. R. Nagendra
Chairman
Recognized worldwide as a yoga guru, Dr. Hongasandra Rama Rao Nagendra is the Chancellor of S-VYASA University and guiding force behind VYASA movement. Fascinated by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who expressed this great wisdom in modern terminology and urged his followers to combine the best of the West with the best of the East, he has successfully incorporated this philosophy into his research all through his career.
President of Government of India has awarded him with prestigious Padma Shri award in the year 2016 in recognition of his service in the field of yoga.
Dr. R. Nagarathna
Chair Person
Dr. R. Nagarathna is one of the pioneers in the field of Yoga therapy. She is the Dean, Division of yoga and life sciences and chief consultant at Arogyadhama, S-VYASA. She heads the therapy division for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and other ailments. She did her MBBS from Bangalore Medical College, MD in internal medicine from Mysore Medical College, her MRCP, and FRCP from Edinburg, UK. She works relentlessly towards making Yoga an evidence-based practice for human maladies. She has over 80 publications in national and international journals and has written 11 books on yoga therapy for different ailments.
Dr. Keishin Kimura
President
Dr. Keishin Kimura graduated from the Tokyo University of Education in 1969. Educated in Philosophy of Religion at Kyoto University. He received his doctorate from S-VYASA Yoga University.
He founded Yoga Niketan Japan in Tokyo in 1981, around the time when he was learning Yoga in Rishikesh, India. He is educated in Yoga therapy at Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in India. Received holy name (Jnana Yogi) by Swami Yogeshwaranand, being Raja Yoga Acharya, and started to teach Raja Yoga in Japan.
Currently, he is engaged in a wide variety of seminars, lectures, and Yoga training based on traditional Raja Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and Naikan. From 1994, giving Yoga Therapy Instructors Course for Japanese Yoga Teachers in cooperation with Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bengaluru.
Dr. Manjunath N K
Vice President
Dr. Manjunath N. K., Head of the research department (Anvesana Research Laboratories), at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana Institute, S-VYASA, Bangalore, has a long and distinguished career path in the field of yoga. His hard work and dedication helped him become an expert in the area of research in yoga and its applications. Working tirelessly over 25 years, he advanced and progressed through many positions of increasing responsibility and management at S-VYASA and other organizations. With his unique background of study based knowledge he guides and monitors the research, development and management of several projects and programs.
Mr. Manoj Thakur
Secretary
Mr. Manoj Thakur is the yoga master and Managing Director of Vyasa Yoga Singapore. He holds an M.Sc in yogic sciences and has over 20 years experience in the field, teaching and practicing Yoga. He conducts yoga instructor and therapy courses at Vyasa Singapore as well as workshops on a range of topics relating to Yoga and Yoga Therapy.
Ms. Viveka Kim
Joint Secretary
Ms. Viveka Kim, holds a master's degree in yogic science from SVYASA University, believes in a separation of the spiritual and practical aspects of yoga. Ms. Kim runs Viveka Yoga Center in South korea which offers a unique perspective on yoga, distinguishing itself from the traditional practice in India. Kim emphasizes the scientific and systematic approach to yoga, striving to unlock its physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions for her students.
With the vision of teaching yogic science, yogic therapy, and yogic life, Viveka Yoga offers a holistic understanding of yoga without the need to travel to India. In her quest to promote yoga and yoga therapy, Ms. Kim signed an agreement with Miryang City. This collaborative effort culminated in the Miryang Arirang International Yoga Conference, a noteworthy event bridging the global yoga community.
Mr. Vyasah Kalyanasundram
Joint Secretary
Founder of - Astanka Yoga Mandir-Sri Lanka, Co-Founder –A.A.Y.U.S.H-Sri Lanka, Chief Yoga Instructor - Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), Colombo (High Commission of India in Sri Lanka) Country Representative- S-VYASA Yoga University, Mr. Vyasah Kalyanasunderam is in the field of teaching Hatha Yoga, relaxation techniques, meditation and various breathing techniques since 1992.
"Mr. Vyasah Kalyanasunderam is in the field of teaching Hatha Yoga, relaxation techniques, meditation and various breathing techniques since 1992. He was initiated, taught and guided in to this ancient tradition by his mother Mrs.Selvam Kalyanasunderam, a Barrister by profession, who had vast knowledge on ancient scriptures that revealed various breathing and meditative practices. She comes from the tradition of the world renowned yoga master H.H.Dr.Swami Sivananda Maharaj the founder of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. Mr. Vyasah was also guided by great yogic masters like H.H.Swami Datta Ramagiri (India) and Acharya Swami Ram (Dr.S.Ramanathan) the founder of Holistic Kriya Yoga center, Canada. He is a visiting lecturer at the Gampaha Wickramarachi Ayurveda institute (Kelaniya University) and Easter University."
Dr. Avinash Mishra
Joint Secretary
Dr. Avinash Mishra, the Joint Secretary of APYTA is a long-time advocate of yoga and its traditional philosophy. Dr. Mishra has a strong foundation in ancient yoga practices laid in his early years under the guidance and mentorship of his grandparents, renowned devotees and his elder brother Mr. Sanjay Mishra, a yoga master himself. During these formative years Dr. Mishra has not only explored spirituality through yoga but also understood the science behind its various methods. This true and in-depth knowledge based on heritage and gained by dedicated practice shaped his career towards using yoga as a holistic approach to achieve mind-body harmony. In his career spanning more than 14 years in the field of yoga, Dr. Mishra has laid emphasis on combining tradition with modern scientific methods in treating different ailments.
