Thanks to the worldwide growing interest in symbiotic integration of Yoga and Modern Medicine, the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth has has set up the Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER) in its MGMCRI at Pondicherry, India. This is most probably the only such innovative centre in a private medical university in India.

1. SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!

2. Salutogenesis, our Focus
• Moving from pathogenesis, the focus on disease
towards salutogenesis, the focus on health!
• Under SBV AIM HIGH (Academy of Integrative
Medicine for Holistic Intervention towards General
Health), Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, CYTER
is striding forward on an innovative path of
promoting holistic health for one and all.
• Bringing together ancient experiential wisdom of
Yoga with evidence based approach of modern
medical science.

3. An Integrated Set Up
At CYTER we are:
– Educating future Yoga therapists,
– Helping patients recover from their illnesses,
– Scientifically researching ‘Hows & Whys’ of Yoga.
Joseph & Lilian Le Page,
Integrative Yoga Therapy,
USA
“There are many centers where you can get a
Yoga degree, attend a Yoga therapy session or
find Yoga research being undertaken. However,
to have all three happening in one place is
surely innovative. This center is indeed a role-
model that combines the best of the East with
that of the West.”
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

4. Our Team
Hon Emeritus Prof: Prof. MADANMOHAN
MBBS, MD, MSc, DSc (Yoga), FIAY
Director: Yogacharya
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
MBBS, ADY, PGDFH, PGDY, MD (AM), FIAY, C-IAYT
Deputy Director : Yogachemmal
Dr. Meena Ramanathan
BSc, MA, CYT, DYNS, PGDY, MSc, PhD (Yoga), C-IAYT
Yoga Lecturer: G Dayanidy, MSc Yoga, PGDYE, CYT
Yoga Instructors:
P Danushapnadeesh, BSc, MCA, MTech, DYEd
G Sarulatha, Dip Yoga and Bharatanatyam
• Hon Emeritus Professor and Director are
medical doctors with vast experience in Yoga
education, therapy and research
• > 200 publications. 13 referenced by National
Health Portal (Yoga research section)
• Hon Emeritus Professor was Head Physiology
with 43 y experience. Guided many MD and
PhD. Honoured with DSc in Yoga.
• Director on Ministry of AYUSH Expert
Committees for IDY, DM, ICH & CCRYN.
Boards of CYAI, IYA & advisor IAYT & AAYT. 22
books, 19 dvds with h-index 16 and i10-index
28. 1st C—IAYT certified in India.
• Our Deputy Director is first Pondicherrian to
complete her PhD in Yoga. Extensive
experience in Yoga for geriatric population
and special children. C-IAYT certified.
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

5. Yoga Therapy
• Yoga is usually found in the Physical Education & Sports
departments of many universities
• We at CYTER have it in a medical institution
– enhancing the learning curve of our trainees
– enabling us to offer holistic benefits for patients
– creating awareness amongst medical professionals
• Daily OPD consultations, individual & group sessions
• Yoga consultations in all Master Health checkups
offered by our Hospital services and IP wards
• Quality of life enhancing benefits for ~ 40,000 patients
in MGMC&RI, Pondicherry.
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

6. What is Yoga Therapy?
• Not merely exercise!
• Focuses on health promotion,
management of specific conditions
and general disease prevention.
• Incorporates holistic amalgam:
– Yogic counseling,
– dietary advice,
– lifestyle modifications,
– breath-body work,
– relaxation,
– meditation,
– chanting and mindfulness.
• Change in attitude.
• Inherent healing facilitated
• Self empowerment.

7. Patient Diversity and Benefits
• Orthopedics (20%): Anesthetist with back pain, housewife with neck pain -
back to normal, ↑mobility in senior citizens.
• Psychiatry (20%): Suicide prevention, alcoholic de-addiction, anxiety
reduction, mood stabilization, ↑self-esteem & confidence, ↓loneliness.
• General medicine (10%): ↓dosage in HT, avoidance of drugs in pre-HT.
Weight loss in obesity. Glycemic control in T2DM. Subclinical hypothyroidism
controlled, ↓drug dosage in established cases.
• Dermatology (10%): Drug resistant psoriasis -responsive after Yoga
• Obs & Gyne (10%): Healthier pregnancy and labour, ↓BP in pre-eclampsia,
↓ postpartum blues, normalization of periods & weight loss in PCOD.
• General (30%): Silver citizens, special children, enhanced wellbeing, self-
confidence, emotional stability, “feel good” factor, healthier sleep &
appetite, social bonding & relationships, “positive peer pressure”. Reduced
academic stress, greater sense of focus, & enhanced ‘zest for life’ in
medical, nursing and dental students.

8. Yoga Education
• MPhil in Yoga Therapy, PG Diploma in Yoga Therapy (PGDYT) &
Certificate Courses in Yoga Therapy are unique as they are
offered through a modern medical institution through CBCS.
• Uniting ancient traditional wisdom of Yoga with evidence based
approach of modern medicine.
• Three batches of PGDYT have graduated.
• International interest in the course.
• Regular training for students, faculty members, senior citizens,
special children and TG population.
• Special sessions for MBBS, BDS and Nursing students.
• CYTER model can be adopted by all innovative medical
colleges when new MCI regulations are implemented.

9. Lateral
Exit
Lateral
Exit
Lateral
Entry
Career pathway
in Yoga Therapy
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

10. • These courses are designed to develop broad
understanding of Yoga and Yoga therapy as well
as clinical applications of Yoga therapy in
different medical conditions.
• Four certificate courses with 8 credits each are
being offered.
– Foundations of Yoga (CFY)
– Foundations of Yoga Therapy (CFYT)
– Applications of Yoga (CAY)
– Clinical Applications of Yoga Therapy (CCAYT)
• Participants obtain requisite skills to function
independently as a therapist.
Certificate Courses in
Yoga Therapy
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

11. • 2-Semester, 34 credits course for medical,
paramedical, yoga instructors.
• Theory papers :
– Foundations of yoga
– Foundations of modern medicine
– Foundations of yoga chikitsa
– Application of yoga in different fields
– Role of yoga in cardiovascular, respiratory,
musculoskeletal and digestive disorders
– Yoga as a therapy for neurological, endocrine,
metabolic, psychiatric and other disorders
• Extensive Practicum
– Training in Yogic techniques
– Applied aspects in different conditions
– Hands-on training in conducting sessions
– Clinical and research experience
Post Graduate Diploma in
Yoga Therapy (PGDYT)
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

12. – 2 Semester, 38 credits course
– Individual mentoring by CYTER faculty.
– Core : Research methodology
– Two electives with practical evaluation
of techniques and submission of
monograph.
– Major research project with
dissertation and viva.
– Portfolio and mentoring emphasized.
– Extensive ‘hands on’ clinical
experience in MGMCRI.
M Phil in Yoga Therapy
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

13. Yoga Research
• Basic and applied research is being carried out on various
yogic techniques in different populations and conditions.
• 8 completed projects and 13 ongoing.
• Published 66 papers, review articles & 24 abstracts on
short & long term, health enhancing benefits of training &
therapeutic programs in patients & healthy volunteers.
• Current inter-disciplinary studies focusing on
– Psychophysiological effects in geriatrics,
– Cardio-respiratory physiology,
– Computer vision syndrome and changes in IOP,
– Medicine, ENT, dermatology and pulmonology
– Transgender community.

14. Community Empowerment
• Workshops/Seminars/CMEs on “Yoga for lifestyle disorders”,
“Sleep, consciousness and meditation: neurological
correlates”, “Therapeutic potential of Yoga”, “Introducing Yoga
in HPE” & “Yoga & chronic disorders” > 300 medical,
paramedical, yoga professionals, students & international
delegates attending each event in 2013, 14, 15, 16 and 2017.
• International Day of Yoga celebrations June 2015, 16 & 17.
• Regular awareness programs conducted at Pondicherry
Education Dept, various schools, colleges, senior citizen welfare
associations, medical, Yoga and social associations locally.
• Interactive Yoga Therapy workshops during International Yoga
Festivals organized by Govt of Pondicherry since 2014.

15. International Day of Yoga
Week-long programmes of multifaceted
activities in June 2015, 16 & 17.
• Mass Yoga demonstrations
• Yoga competitions
• Yoga Fest
• Public Awareness Programmes at
MGMCRI Urban and Rural
Centres, Hospice & Schools.
• Yoga Awareness in constituent
colleges and Senior Citizen
Welfare Association
• National Seminar & CMEs

16. Experienced faculty, super specialty medical
facilities, extensive practicum with ‘hands on’
clinical and research experience
Distance from town, inadequate language
skills of students, lack of opportunities in
public sector currently
GOI is promoting AYUSH enthusiastically,
integrative, holistic, mind-body medicine is
future of healthcare worldwide.
Maintaining high standards to ensure qualitative
research, education & ‘patient friendly’ health
care and prevent quackery
S
C
W
O
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

17. Mapping the future
• Collaborative Research Centre with Central Council
for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, AYUSH Ministry
• International Yoga Therapy Conference -Dec 2017
• Multi-centric research studies
• MOU with Amity University, Kaivalyadhama Yoga
Institute (Lonavla), ICYER (Pondicherry), Gitananda
Yoga Associations of UK and Australia.
• Internship for International Yoga therapists from IAYT,
USA and AAYT, Australia.
• PhD in Yoga therapy.

18. Charting a New Path
• Government of India promotes indigenous systems strongly
through Ministry of AYUSH.
• Holistic integration of Yoga and modern medicine enables
best quality patient care as the limitations of one are the
strength of the other.
• Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth provides a supportive and innovative
milieu where Yoga, our cultural heritage, reaches everyone
optimally, effectively & holistically.
• CYTER can be nodal centre to train medical educators &
administrators to set up Integrative Health Centers as we
have necessary infrastructure and man power.

19. “Path breaking innovation
indeed. Much needed for the
modern world. Congrats SBVU!”
Ammaji
“CYTER is such a huge
inspiration. There should be
many more projects like
this.”- Kalavathi, UK
“CYTER will surely be one
of the torch bearers in
Yoga Therapy worldwide in
time to come.”
Sri S Sridharan, KYM
“A great opportunity to train
‘hands on’ in the application
of Yoga in medicine.
Excellent training in a yoga
therapy department within a
modern medical hospital
with a unique team!” -
Nathalie Cazach,
Student PGDYT, France.
Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC

20. Accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC