MWR Partners with India Taipei Association to Present "Yoga for Body and Mind"
"Sanatana Dharma X International Day of Yoga" Showcase Bridges Ancient Wisdom and Modern Healing
Observing the International Day of Yoga, the Museum of World Religions (MWR) partnered with the India Taipei Association (ITA) to present "Sanatana Dharma X International Day of Yoga." On June 18, the event brought together an Indian cultural lecturer and senior yoga instructors to conduct insightful talks, meditation, and experiential sessions. Seamlessly integrated with a guided tour of the museum's current feature display, "Sanatana Dharma: An Artsy Window of a Special Exhibition of Hinduism," the program beautifully transformed ancient Indian wisdom into a modern healing experience for the body and mind.
Three Exclusive Sessions Offer a Spiritual Recharge for Body & Mind
Originating in India, yoga has been a practice of physical discipline for thousands of years, as well as a profound philosophy encompassing breath, mindfulness, spiritual cultivation, and the exploration of life. In 2014, the United Nations adopted a resolution designating June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Falling on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, this longest day of the year symbolizes light and wisdom in Indian culture, encouraging the global community to promote physical and mental health, cultural exchange, and the ideals of peace through yoga.
This event featured three small-group, tailored sessions designed specifically for corporate leaders, professional yoga teachers, and the general public, creating an immersive mind-body-spirit cultural experience. The opening remarks were warmly delivered by Venerable Xi Ru, Executive Assistant to the MWR CEO, and Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad, Deputy Director-General of the India Taipei Association (ITA).
Upholding MWR’s founding spirit—"Respect for all Faiths, Tolerance for all Cultures, and Love for all Lives"—Venerable Xi Ru, Executive Assistant to the MWR CEO, expressed his hope that India's profound cultural heritage would guide the public toward the wisdom of yoga and help them reclaim inner balance. He also invoked a signature quote by the museum's founder, Grand Master Hsin Tao: "When the mind is at peace, the world is at peace," wishing all participants a journey toward inner tranquility.
Meanwhile, Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad highlighted that the theme for this year's International Day of Yoga is "Yoga for Healthy Aging." Amid a rapidly aging global population, she reminded everyone that true health transcends mere longevity; it is about maintaining vitality, balance, and peace of mind at every single stage of life.
Beyond Stretching: Yoga as the Living Wisdom of Indian Civilization
The event specially invited Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad and Mrs. Trupti Mehta Deshpande, spouse of the ITA Director-General, to serve as cultural lecturers. Together, they shared the profound philosophy of Indian culture, the origins and historical evolution of yoga, and its diverse schools. They highlighted the pivotal role yoga plays in Indian civilization—a vibrant essence that beautifully permeates everything from literature, dance, and music to art, festivals, pilgrimage traditions, and everyday language.
"Yoga is not just about the asanas (physical postures) that most people are familiar with; it is a way of life, and more importantly, a process of calming the fluctuations of the mind." Inside the Spiritual Learning Area on the 6th floor of MWR, the instructors guided and demonstrated the essential steps, methods, and tips of meditation, empowering participants to fully focus on each breath and cultivate moment-to-moment mindfulness.
The sessions were led by Soni Satendra Kumar, an internationally acclaimed instructor with profound teaching experience, and Sujit Kumar, a senior yoga guru decorated with India's highest honor, "Yoga Arjuna." In the Room of Letting Go on the 7th floor of MWR, they demonstrated and professionally guided participants through asana practice and pranayama (breathing adjustments). This journey allowed participants to start from the physical body, gradually return to their inner selves, and experience the profound wisdom of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit in Indian yoga.
Exploring the Indian Philosophy of Life Through Religious Art
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of MWR. This event, themed "Sanatana Dharma X International Day of Yoga," beautifully transformed the museum into a flowing spiritual haven, leading participants deep into the special exhibition of Hindu Arts currently on display on the 6th and 7th floors. Guided tours also highlighted the Hindu faith exhibit and intricate models of Shiva temples within the permanent collection, weaving an alternative dialogue with religious art and revealing the profound cultural essence behind yoga. From the timeless wisdom of ancient civilizations to today's global mind-body-spirit movement, the experience ultimately explored the universal answers to life that humanity collectively seeks.
Participants shared that in this rapidly changing era, where stress, anxiety, and uncertainty have become a part of daily life, yoga brings the physical health and mental peace that people so deeply crave. For many, the greatest harvest was reconnecting with their inner voice through the practice. Another participant praised her first experience of doing yoga in a museum, describing it as an inward-bound spiritual journey that beautifully combined cultural experience, physical practice, and the appreciation of religious art.
Observing the International Day of Yoga, the Museum of World Religions (MWR) partnered with the India Taipei Association (ITA) to present "Sanatana Dharma X International Day of Yoga." On June 18, the event brought together an Indian cultural lecturer and senior yoga instructors to conduct insightful talks, meditation, and experiential sessions. Seamlessly integrated with a guided tour of the museum's current feature display, "Sanatana Dharma: An Artsy Window of a Special Exhibition of Hinduism," the program beautifully transformed ancient Indian wisdom into a modern healing experience for the body and mind.
Three Exclusive Sessions Offer a Spiritual Recharge for Body & Mind
Originating in India, yoga has been a practice of physical discipline for thousands of years, as well as a profound philosophy encompassing breath, mindfulness, spiritual cultivation, and the exploration of life. In 2014, the United Nations adopted a resolution designating June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Falling on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, this longest day of the year symbolizes light and wisdom in Indian culture, encouraging the global community to promote physical and mental health, cultural exchange, and the ideals of peace through yoga.
This event featured three small-group, tailored sessions designed specifically for corporate leaders, professional yoga teachers, and the general public, creating an immersive mind-body-spirit cultural experience. The opening remarks were warmly delivered by Venerable Xi Ru, Executive Assistant to the MWR CEO, and Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad, Deputy Director-General of the India Taipei Association (ITA).
Upholding MWR’s founding spirit—"Respect for all Faiths, Tolerance for all Cultures, and Love for all Lives"—Venerable Xi Ru, Executive Assistant to the MWR CEO, expressed his hope that India's profound cultural heritage would guide the public toward the wisdom of yoga and help them reclaim inner balance. He also invoked a signature quote by the museum's founder, Grand Master Hsin Tao: "When the mind is at peace, the world is at peace," wishing all participants a journey toward inner tranquility.
Meanwhile, Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad highlighted that the theme for this year's International Day of Yoga is "Yoga for Healthy Aging." Amid a rapidly aging global population, she reminded everyone that true health transcends mere longevity; it is about maintaining vitality, balance, and peace of mind at every single stage of life.
Beyond Stretching: Yoga as the Living Wisdom of Indian Civilization
The event specially invited Vishwanjali Murlidhar Gaikwad and Mrs. Trupti Mehta Deshpande, spouse of the ITA Director-General, to serve as cultural lecturers. Together, they shared the profound philosophy of Indian culture, the origins and historical evolution of yoga, and its diverse schools. They highlighted the pivotal role yoga plays in Indian civilization—a vibrant essence that beautifully permeates everything from literature, dance, and music to art, festivals, pilgrimage traditions, and everyday language.
"Yoga is not just about the asanas (physical postures) that most people are familiar with; it is a way of life, and more importantly, a process of calming the fluctuations of the mind." Inside the Spiritual Learning Area on the 6th floor of MWR, the instructors guided and demonstrated the essential steps, methods, and tips of meditation, empowering participants to fully focus on each breath and cultivate moment-to-moment mindfulness.
The sessions were led by Soni Satendra Kumar, an internationally acclaimed instructor with profound teaching experience, and Sujit Kumar, a senior yoga guru decorated with India's highest honor, "Yoga Arjuna." In the Room of Letting Go on the 7th floor of MWR, they demonstrated and professionally guided participants through asana practice and pranayama (breathing adjustments). This journey allowed participants to start from the physical body, gradually return to their inner selves, and experience the profound wisdom of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit in Indian yoga.
Exploring the Indian Philosophy of Life Through Religious Art
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of MWR. This event, themed "Sanatana Dharma X International Day of Yoga," beautifully transformed the museum into a flowing spiritual haven, leading participants deep into the special exhibition of Hindu Arts currently on display on the 6th and 7th floors. Guided tours also highlighted the Hindu faith exhibit and intricate models of Shiva temples within the permanent collection, weaving an alternative dialogue with religious art and revealing the profound cultural essence behind yoga. From the timeless wisdom of ancient civilizations to today's global mind-body-spirit movement, the experience ultimately explored the universal answers to life that humanity collectively seeks.
Participants shared that in this rapidly changing era, where stress, anxiety, and uncertainty have become a part of daily life, yoga brings the physical health and mental peace that people so deeply crave. For many, the greatest harvest was reconnecting with their inner voice through the practice. Another participant praised her first experience of doing yoga in a museum, describing it as an inward-bound spiritual journey that beautifully combined cultural experience, physical practice, and the appreciation of religious art.