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Yoga teachers honored in Houston
The event, that was held as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations, drew over 350 attendees, primarily yoga teachers and enthusiasts.
12 yoga teachers honored at the event. / Bijay Dixit / Hindus of Greater Houston
The Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) in collaboration with Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH) recently organized a special event at VPSS Haveli to honor eminent yoga teachers in the city.
The event, that was held as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations, drew over 350 attendees, primarily yoga teachers and enthusiasts.
Speaking at the event, the Consul General of India, D. C. Manjunath reflected on the growing global popularity of yoga since its designation as an international observance by the UN a decade ago, thanks to the vision of India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Speakers at the event (clockwise-Smitha Mallaiah, Robert Boustany, Consul General of India, D. C. Manjunath and Vijay Pallod) Image credit: Bijay Dixit / Hindus of Greater Houston / The Consul General also praised the collaborative efforts of SVYASA, Hindus of Greater Houston, and other partnering organizations in recognizing the contributions of yoga teachers to the Houston community.
The event's centerpiece was the recognition of 12 yoga teachers based in Houston, who were selected through a nomination and selection process. Each teacher received a plaque from the Consulate General and other presenters.
The honorees included: Geeta Bhatia (Art of Living), Suresh Patel (GSH), Manisha Gandhi (HGH), Sharad Amin (HSS), Parul Fernandes (ICC), Tasnim Vadva (IMAGH), CL Vipin Kumar (India House), Anita Patel (Isha Foundation), Robert Boustany (Pralaya Yoga), Prakash Morolia (SVYASA), and Rasesh Dalal (VPSS).
Emcees Saumil Manek and Manisha Gandhi, managed the event’s proceedings. One of Houston's most senior yoga teachers, Robert Boustany, spoke about appreciating life and cultivating love and compassion beyond the physical body. He noted there are over 2,500 yoga teachers in Houston and announced the formation of a new organization to unify these teachers, which will serve the city year-round.
The event drew over 350 attendees, primarily yoga teachers and enthusiasts. Image Credit: Bijay Dixit / Hindus of Greater Houston /
A video showcasing the rich history of yoga in Houston, dating back to the 1960s, was presented by Lex, who recounted his journey in establishing one of the first yoga organizations in the city.
Vijay Pallod, director of Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH), in his speech highlighted the significance of the event and expressed gratitude to all participating organizations. He emphasized the importance of making yoga accessible to all communities, including minority groups, and committed to providing scholarships to African American and minority groups for yoga teacher training courses.
Pallod also expressed his desire to promote International Day of Yoga to a level of popularity similar to that of Mother’s Day.
The event featured several demonstrations, including a yoga display by children from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and a performance organized by Simmi Dargan, featuring a diverse group of yoga practitioners aged 11 to 82.
Smitha Mallaiah, program director and senior faculty at SVYASA, highlighted the contributions of SVYASA over the last five decades. She emphasized the institution's role in offering yoga certification courses and conducting research to establish the benefits of yoga through modern medical science.
Currently serving as a senior yoga therapist at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Mallaiah integrates therapeutic yoga practices into patient care and co-chairs the Society for Integrative Oncology's Yoga Special Interest Group.
The celebration concluded with a closing prayer and a group photo of 70 yoga instructors and representatives of key organizations in Houston, marking a memorable evening of appreciation and unity.
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