Yoga and Mental Health Summit

Mental well-being does not look the same for everyone. The Yoga & Mental Health Summit explores how everyday stress, relationships, responsibilities, purpose, and life experiences shape our inner well-being. Each speaker brings a different perspective on mental health and how Yoga and complementary practices may support it. Together, we explore how these practices can meet people in the realities of everyday life. Sign up now — it’s FREE. #yoga programs, #Free yoga courses, #Health wellness courses, #Yoga therapy courses, #Mental health courses, #Emotional intelligence courses

Program Overview

Why This Summit Matters
Mental health is not only about managing a crisis.
It is also reflected in how we respond to stress, uncertainty, relationships, changing life stages, caregiving, sensory overload, emotional fatigue, questions of purpose and the demands of everyday life.
And therefore, support cannot always look the same for everyone.
Yoga offers a framework that works through the body, breath, behaviour, senses, attention, self-awareness and way of living.
Alongside other complementary perspectives, it can help us explore more thoughtful and context-sensitive ways of supporting well-being.

What We Will Explore
Across the summit, speakers will bring perspectives from their own areas of work and experience, including:

  • Yoga, dharma, purpose and inner well-being
  • Women’s mental health through different stages and experiences of life
  • Yoga in the context of autism and neurodiversity, including support for teachers and parents
  • Stress, emotional resilience and nervous-system regulation
  • The relationship between body, breath, mind, lifestyle and environment
  • How Yoga and complementary practices can be adapted for different individuals and communities


Rather than looking for one technique or one answer, the summit encourages us to become more curious about the person in front of us.

What You May Take Away
By the end of the summit, participants may leave with:

  • A broader understanding of mental well-being across different populations and life situations
  • Greater sensitivity towards individual needs and lived experiences
  • New perspectives on the relationship between Yoga, mental health and society
  • Practical approaches that may support emotional balance, awareness and resilience
  • A deeper appreciation of Yoga as more than a relaxation technique
  • Greater curiosity about how complementary practices can work alongside appropriate professional care

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Important Note:

This summit is educational and experiential in nature. Yoga and complementary practices may support overall mental well-being, but they are not substitutes for diagnosis, psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medication, developmental interventions or emergency mental-health support.

Participants receiving professional care should continue to follow the guidance of their qualified healthcare professionals.

Course Curriculum

Yoga and Mental Health Summit

Schedule

Day Time Title
06-09-2026 08:00 - 08:50 AM Understanding Mind-Breath- Prāṇa in relation to mental health By Saraswathi Vasudevan
06-09-2026 09:00 - 09:50 AM Mind, Mental Health and No-Mind by Dr. N. Ganesh Rao
06-09-2026 10:00 - 10:50 AM TBA
06-09-2026 05:00 - 05:50 PM Menstrual Cycle Awareness: A Woman's Roadmap for Mental Wellbeing by Nea Ferrier
06-09-2026 06:00 - 06:50 PM Stress, emotional resilience and nervous-system regulation by Vinay Kulkarni
06-09-2026 07:00 - 07:50 PM Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Training by Alessandra Zamora

Meet Our Mentors

Saraswathi Vasudevan

Saraswathi Vasudevan has close to 35 years of experience in teaching yoga and providing personalized yoga therapy in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Sri T.K.V. Desikachar. She holds postgraduate degrees in Nutrition and Psychology, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Studies from Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), Chennai.

Having trained under Sri T.K.V. Desikachar and other senior teachers and served at KYM for over 17 years, Saraswathi has developed deep expertise in adapting yoga to the unique needs and abilities of each individual. Her teaching is rooted in a philosophy that honors each person’s uniqueness, strengths, and challenges.

She is the Founder and Director of YogaVahini, a yoga institute based in Chennai and Hyderabad, India, offering specialized yoga therapy and teacher training programs. Saraswathi has also served as a Board Member of the Yoga Alliance (YA), contributing to the advancement of yoga professionals worldwide.

Dr. N. Ganesh Rao

Dr. N. Ganesh Rao helps people build inner strength through yoga, philosophy, and disciplined practice. With over 26,500 yoga sessions conducted across 20+ countries, his work focuses on health, healing, and clarity of mind.

A former Finance Executive at Tata Motors with more than two decades of corporate experience, Dr. Rao chose to dedicate his life to teaching and transformation. He is also a former professional soccer player who represented his State in six National Championships and trained over 5,000 players across 20 years.

Academically, he holds multiple qualifications including M.com., DMS, M.A. (Philosophy), Ph.D., D.N., D.Y.Ed., and Yoga Chikitsa Acharya. He serves as Professor and Ph.D. Guide in Yoga & Philosophy, with eight doctoral scholars completing their research under his guidance.

A regular Himalayan trekker for over 35 years, Dr. Rao blends discipline, depth, and real-life experience into his teachings. He has authored four books and numerous articles, and serves on Boards of Studies and as Visiting Professor at institutions including Kaivalyadhama, Sri Sri University, MNLU, and the College of Defence Management.Through clarity, structure, and compassion, he continues to guide students toward inner stability and conscious living.

Nea Ferrier

Nea Ferrier is a yoga educator and Menstruality Mentor, specialising in Ashtanga yoga practice and philosophy with a focus on women’s health, wellbeing and cyclical awareness.

Nea began her yoga studies in Mysore in 2006 and was given the blessing to teach Ashtanga yoga by Paramaguru Sharath Jois in 2010. She has taught internationally as a resident teacher in Australia, Japan and the UAE, where she founded and taught at Ashtanga Yoga Dubai for 12 years.

Nea is a certified Menstruality Mentor with The Red School and is passionate about supporting women to understand and work with the menstrual cycle as a source of embodied wisdom, self-awareness and spiritual practice.

Her teaching is informed by her ongoing studies in Ayurveda, Tantra and Veda Chanting, alongside her experience of teaching yoga for the past 18 years to women across different stages of life.

Now based in Cape Town, Nea teaches online and leads yoga and women’s retreats internationally.

Vinay Kulkarni

Vinay Kulkarni brings over 25 years of global experience in business management and wellness as an entrepreneur, advisor, educator, and marketer.

His focus spans business transformation and the meaningful integration of Dharmic principles into organizational practice. He created the Dharmic Enterprise Framework, a model that helps organizations align profit with purpose and evolve as Dharmic enterprises. In Bengaluru, he established a cultural center housing The Upadesha Academy (IKS-based workshops & retreats), Darshana Books & Gifts (Indic), and Samvada Bistro, where he explores his passion for fusion cuisine blending traditional Indian and international flavors, alongside ventures including ALCHMI, Sanskritishala (cultural workshops for children & youth), and Sanathani.com (Indic merchandise). Through this ecosystem, he works to embed Dharmic principles across business, education, and governance.

Alessandra Zamora

Alessandra Zamora is the founder and former Executive Director of Colegio Monarch Guatemala, the first therapeutic school in Central America. For nearly two decades, she has worked alongside neurodivergent children, families, and multidisciplinary professionals, while challenging stigma and expanding access to therapeutic education in Guatemala. 

Her work is rooted in both professional experience and her own journey as a mother. She holds an Executive Master’s degree in Positive Leadership and Strategy, where her graduate research explored a mindfulness-based intervention for parents of children with autism, examining how awareness practices can support emotional regulation, self-compassion, and acceptance, and help parents relate differently to the demands of caregiving. 

Her own contemplative practice has been an important part of that journey, shaping both her personal resilience and her approach to caregiving, leadership, and supporting families.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Yoga and Mental Health Summit?

It is an educational and experiential summit exploring how Yoga and complementary practices can support mental well-being, emotional resilience, and nervous-system regulation.

Who can attend the summit?

The summit is open to everyone interested in Yoga, mental well-being, emotional health, and complementary practices.

Do I need prior experience in Yoga?

No. The summit is designed for both beginners and experienced Yoga practitioners.

Is this summit useful for Yoga teachers and wellness professionals?

Yes. It can help Yoga teachers, therapists, wellness coaches, and other professionals develop a broader understanding of mental well-being and the role of Yoga.

What can I take away from the summit?

You may gain a better understanding of mental well-being, practical tools for emotional balance and resilience, and a deeper understanding of how Yoga can support everyday mental wellness.

Can I attend if I am already receiving mental-health treatment?

Yes. However, participants undergoing treatment should continue to follow the advice and guidance of their qualified healthcare professionals.

Is this summit a replacement for professional mental-health care?

No. The summit is educational and experiential in nature. Yoga and complementary practices are not a replacement for diagnosis, psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medication, or emergency mental-health support.

Who are the speakers at the summit?

The summit brings together 6 experienced teachers and practitioners who will share different perspectives on Yoga, mental health, nervous-system regulation, and complementary practices.

Will I get access to the session recordings?

Yes. Recording access for all 6 speaker sessions will be provided to registered participants, allowing you to revisit the sessions and learn at your own pace.

How long will I have access to the recordings?

The recordings will be made available through the program dashboard. The access period will be as mentioned on the program page/dashboard.

Is the summit suitable for beginners?

Yes. You do not need advanced knowledge of Yoga or mental-health practices to benefit from the summit.

Can I attend only the sessions that interest me?

The summit brings together multiple perspectives, so we encourage participants to attend as many sessions as possible. You can also revisit the 6 speaker recordings later.

How do I register for the summit?

You can register through the hellomyyoga program page. Once registered, the session and dashboard access details will be shared with you.

Testimonials

I have taken many online offerings through Hellomyyoga. Their offerings are timely, relevant, and insightful. In the modern world, the ancient teachings of yoga seem more relevant than ever. Hellomyyoga does an excellent job of sharing the teachings with modern practitioners.

~Julia C. Jonson, Yoga Instructor, USA

It's truly wonderful to have a platform like HelloMyYoga, fostering an enriching space. The genesis of profound texts such as Yogavashishtha and Bhagavadgita arose from the sacred dialogue, the samvaad, between the seeker and the guide. What sets HelloMyYoga apart is how it recreates this atmosphere of samvaad and the invaluable experience it offers, enabling direct inquiries to the guru, thereby nurturing the expansion of knowledge and wisdom. Additionally, the platform's ability to connect us with the finest yoga teachers worldwide online has significantly simplified the learning process, making it remarkably effortless and accessible from the comforts of our home.

~Rajat Thakur, Yoga Scholar, India

hellomyyoga offers authentic courses and workshops with experienced teachers to dive deeper into the world of yoga. I would recommend their offerings to anyone interested in learning more about yoga, it's philosophy and application.

~Sabine Lehnhardt, Yoga Instructor, Australia

hmy provides content of teachers with profound, ancient knowledge about yogic practices as well as tradition and background information. I highly appreciate hmy's work, here I can study with absolute trust about the authenticity of what is being taught.

~Bernd Pasitschniak, Yoga Scholar, Germany

hellomyyoga is an absolutely amazing page on social media providing such an inspiring, enriching yet diverse health & wellness platform. It is offering a wide range of authentic, thought-provoking & educational courses, talks, webinars, etc. disseminating ancient, scientific & experiential wisdom taught by expert specialists, to help heal, transform & inspire yoga teachers, enthusiasts & a bigger community at large in India & internationally. Its authentic, sincere & generous service & approach is highly commendable. .

~Veena Sethi, Yoga Instructor, Thailand