SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Ujire proudly hosted the 3rd International Conference on Yoga & Naturopathy – 2025 and AEON 3.0, a distinctive cultural and sports fest fostering intercollegiate relationships from 12-16 May 2025. This conference also served as a vibrant platform for alumni to reunite and engage. Yoga and Naturopathy is one of the fastest-growing systems of medicine in India, and its popularity is steadily spreading across the globe.
The Inauguration of the Conference was held at SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Ujire. The inaugural event commenced with a solemn tribute to the armed forces, honoring their valor and sacrifice in recent times to safeguard the nation.
The program was chaired by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala and President of the SDM Educational Society, Ujire. Distinguished guests presiding over the event included Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Honorable Chancellor of SVYASA University, Bengaluru; Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Honorable Member of Parliament, Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency; Dr. Manjunath N. K., Vice Chancellor, SVYASA University; and Dr. Raghavendra Rao, Director, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN).
Also present were Sri Harshendra Kumar, Secretary, SDME Society, Ujire; Dr. Sateeshchandra S., Secretary, SDME Society®; Dr. Naveen K. V., President of the Indian Naturopathy and Yoga Graduates Medical Association (INYGMA), Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi; Dr. Prashant Shetty, Principal of SDMCNYS and Secretary General, INYGMA; and Dr. Babu Joseph, Director, Netaji Institute of Nature Cure and Yoga (NINCY), Kochi, and former Director of NIN, Pune.
Speaking at the event, Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade emphasized the core philosophy of naturopathy, which believes in the principle that “the body heals itself.” He highlighted the impact of SDM’s efforts in the field, noting that its students are now spread across the world, healing patients through the practice of naturopathy and yoga. He added that SDM operates three hospitals and one college dedicated to promoting this holistic system of healthcare.
As part of the ongoing 3rd International Conference on Yoga and Naturopathy, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Honorable Chancellor of SVYASA University, Bengaluru, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of yoga and naturopathy.
In his keynote address, Dr. Nagendra highlighted the paradox of increasing global health issues such as asthma, cancer, and diabetes in an era of advanced modern medicine. He emphasized that science is now at a pivotal point, exploring new frontiers of consciousness and subtle dimensions of health. He noted that diseases are not merely physical but multidimensional and stressed the vital role of yoga and ancient healing systems in addressing this complexity. He called for the integration of Eastern wisdom with Western scientific approaches to achieve more effective, holistic healthcare solutions.
Dr. N. K. Manjunath, Vice Chancellor of SVYASA University, praised the global acceptance and popularity of Indian systems of medicine and described Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, President of the SDM Educational Society, as a modern pioneer of naturopathy for his visionary contributions to the field.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Honorable Member of Parliament, Dakshina Kannada, spoke about the expanding global reach of yoga under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted the central government’s support in leveraging information technology and artificial intelligence to elevate traditional medicine to international standards. He also shared that plans are underway to establish a dedicated treatment.
Dr. Naveen K. V., sharing his reflections, joyfully described SDM as the “mothership” of the yoga and naturopathy community. He spoke about the increasing interest among youth in this field and how the discipline is advancing toward evidence-based and research-driven treatments.
