LEH: The One-Month Yoga Instructor Course (YIC) successfully came to an end today with a grand and spiritually uplifting closing ceremony.
The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Lt. Gen. Hitesh Bhalla, UYSM, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, XIV Corps, Indian Army, who served as the Chief Guest; Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena; Maj. Gen. Arindam Saha, YSM, SM, GOC, 3 Infantry Division, Indian Army; Sh. Laxman Singh Yadhav, DIG, Northwest Frontier, ITBP; Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director, National Institute of Sowa Rigpa; and Tsering Tashi, District Youth and Sports Service Officer.
The ceremony began with the Lighting of the Lamp and Invocation, symbolizing the illumination of inner wisdom and the sacredness of the occasion.
The One-Month YIC, held from 1st to 31st May 2025, was an intensive training program that offered a comprehensive curriculum in yoga asanas, pranayama, meditation, shatkarma, yoga philosophy, anatomy, teaching methodology, and ethics, strictly following the syllabus of the Yoga Certification Board (YCB), Ministry of AYUSH, and academically supported by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi.
A total of 37 participants successfully completed the course, including over 30 officers and soldiers from the Indian Army, alongside yoga practitioners from Ladakh and across India.
Their disciplined participation reflected a deep commitment to holistic well-being and national service.
In her course report, Tashi Chorol, Course Coordinator and Senior Yoga Teacher, detailed the intensive schedule, which included daily practical and theoretical classes, evaluation assessments, and outdoor sessions such as A spiritual trek to Heavenly View Hill, Sunrise yoga at Sindhu Ghat, and A community outreach yoga session at MIMC City Centre, Changspa.
A unique aspect of the Mahabodhi Yoga Institute’s training was the integration of meditation, guided by Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena and Ven. Bhante Mahinda, offering participants deeper self-awareness and spiritual grounding beyond the physical aspects of yoga.
The event saw heartfelt experience-sharing by participants, who expressed immense gratitude to MIMC and Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, acknowledging the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of the course.
Certificates of Completion were ceremoniously distributed to all participants. In a touching gesture, Lt. Gen. Hitesh Bhalla felicitated Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, appreciating his humanitarian work and thanking him for involving the Indian Army in such a meaningful initiative.
He assured continued support from the Indian Army and expressed a desire for more such courses for the armed forces.
Dr. Padma Gurmet lauded Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena as a pioneer of yoga and meditation in Ladakh, and expressed gratitude that YIC is now accessible at the doorstep of Ladakhis and armed forces personnel.
Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, in his address, shared his vision to make Ladakh the Yoga Capital of the World and proposed a future project focused on promoting yoga and meditation among armed and border forces, aiming to build inner resilience alongside physical strength.
The ceremony concluded with a wholesome lunch served at the Mahabodhi Yoga Institute, symbolizing community, nourishment, and shared celebration.
This course stands as a beacon of hope, resilience, and transformation — empowering individuals, strengthening our armed forces, and reaffirming the timeless relevance of yoga in today’s world.
