American Conference on Yoga, Ayurveda & Integrative Therapies for Chronic Diseases & Public Health
This conference will highlight the fact that Yoga, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda serve as a complete lifestyle package — a form of “personalized medicine” that includes:
- Ashtang Yoga, including regular exercise (Asanas) and Pranayam
- Meditation (Dhyana)
- A plant-based diet
- A healthy lifestyle that avoids smoking, drugs, and alcohol
- Cleansing and other modalities that enhance the excretion of toxic metabolic products based on individual needs.
Recognizing the growing importance of this field, the American Academy of Yoga and Medicine (AAYM), in association with the Ministry of AYUSH, will host the world’s first American Conference on Yoga, Ayurveda & Integrative Therapies for Chronic Diseases & Public Health on May 1-2-3, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Venue: Memphis, Tennessee
The conference will be held in Memphis, one of the oldest towns in America, famously known as the home of the legendary singer Elvis Presley. Memphis offers a beautiful spring climate, with average daytime temperatures between 68°F and 75°F (20°C to 24°C) — neither too cold nor too hot — making it an ideal setting for this global event. It is also the headquarters of FedEx, representing the city’s international reach and dynamic modern character.
Conference Objectives
The conference will focus on bridging the gap between traditional wisdom and modern medical science through the following key objectives:
- Bring experts from India and the USA onto one platform
- Release official guidelines for the integration of Yoga, Ayurveda, and modern medicine researchers not only in the USA but worldwide
- Present the latest research on Yoga and Ayurveda and their effects on various diseases
- Develop evidence-based protocols for diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and stress
- Teach therapeutic applications of Yoga and Ayurveda across medical disciplines
- Conduct panel discussions on integrating Yoga into modern medical practice
- Host interactive “one-to-one practice” sessions demonstrating integration methods
- Explore Yoga’s role in treating cardiovascular, cancer, endocrine, and neurological conditions
- Present scientific evidence supporting Ayurveda and Yoga as components of modern therapeutic protocols
- Establish accreditation standards for Yoga and Ayurveda similar to modern allopathic medicine
- Provide practical training for interested participants
Program Highlights
Scientific deliberations and discussions on Yoga and Ayurveda as therapeutic modalities
- Workshops and teaching sessions for medical professionals
- Practical training sessions
- Panel discussions with global experts and authors
- Official release of guidelines on the integration of Yoga and Ayurveda with modern medicine
- Launch of the book “Textbook of Yoga for Cardiovascular Disease”
- Poster and abstract presentations on the latest research in Yoga and Ayurveda
About the American Academy of Yoga and Medicine (AAYM)
The AAYM is the world’s largest organization of physicians and scientists working in the field of clinical research and education in Yoga. It organized its first conference in India at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS-Rishikesh) in March 2019, followed by the world’s largest Yoga conference in 2020, held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw participation from over 1.2 million people worldwide.
The upcoming AAYM 2026 Conference will be the third in this series, bringing together some of the most prominent names in Ayurveda, Yoga, and Integrative Medicine. The event aims to deliberate, teach, and conduct workshops specifically designed for physicians. This conference marks a significant milestone in recognizing Yoga and Ayurveda as integral components of Integrative Medicine — a discipline that continues to expand in evidence, acceptance, and clinical application across the globe.
MEET THE CHAIRMAN
Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS
A distinguished officer of the 1985 batch of the Indian Administrative Service, he is known for his leadership in India’s energy and infrastructure sectors. A graduate in Physics from Presidency College, Kolkata, he has held several senior roles across government and public sector enterprises. He is best known for his tenure as Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Limited, where he spearheaded major reforms to enhance production, streamline operations, and promote sustainability in mining practices. Prior to that, he served as CMD of Singareni Collieries Company Limited and later as Chairman of the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC). An advocate for energy security, sustainable operations, and digital transformation in public enterprises, Mr. Bhattacharya has received multiple awards, including Forbes India’s Best PSU CEO. His career reflects a deep commitment to public service, strategic policy implementation, and infrastructure development.
SECRETARY
1. Amit Chakravarty 2. Thomas Abraham
CO-CHAIRMEN
Tarun Basu
CO-SECRETARY
Anjali Deksmush
MEET THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Indranill Basu-Ray, MD, DNB (Card), FACP, FACC, D.Sc. (Honoris Causa)
Cardiologist and Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiologist Director, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory Director, Cardiovascular Research & Innovations Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Tennessee, USA Chairman, American Academy for Yoga in Medicine
CO - PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Bhushan Patwardhan
A leading biomedical scientist and academic leader with over four decades of experience, Dr. Patwardhan is National Research Professor under the Ministry of AYUSH and Distinguished Professor at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia. His work spans Ayurveda, integrative medicine, and ethnopharmacology.
Manjunath N. K.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of Research & International Affairs at S-VYASA University, Bangalore, Dr. Manjunath is a leading figure in Yoga science, education, and integrative medicine. He holds a B.N.Y.S. from Mangalore University, a Ph.D. in Geriatric Medicine & Yoga from S-VYASA, and an honorary D.Sc. for his contributions to Yoga research.
Pankaj Vij
M.D., FACP, DipABLM is a physician, author, and global leader in lifestyle and integrative medicine. A graduate of AIIMS, New Delhi, he serves as Medical Director of Lifestyle Medicine and Disease Reversal at Kaiser Permanente, Northern California. He is the author of Turbo Metabolism: 8 Weeks to a New You and founder of the wellness initiative Crack the Wellness Code. A past president of AAPI, Dr. Vij is dedicated to advancing holistic, evidence-based approaches for preventing and reversing chronic diseases.
Akshay Anand
Professor in the Department of Neurology and Head of the CCRYN Center for Mind-Body Interventions through Yoga at PGIMER, Chandigarh. Dr. Anand is renowned for his work integrating Yoga, molecular biology, and neuroscience, particularly in neurodegenerative disorders. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Philosophy at Panjab University and as Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Neurosciences and Integrative Medicine Case Reports.
Puneet Misra
Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. A distinguished public health expert with over three decades of experience, Dr. Misra holds an MD, MPH (USA), and works in the area of Integrative Medicine. He is a Fellow of IPHA, IAPSM, and WHO. He has contributed extensively to research and policy in non-communicable diseases, epidemiology, lifestyle medicine, holistic health, Yoga, Integrative Medicine, and public health interventions.
B. N. Gangadhar
A distinguished psychiatrist and the current Distinguished Scientist Chair at the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. He formerly served as Director of NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) and Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC). With decades of academic and clinical experience as a Senior Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, Dr. Gangadhar has been a leading voice in integrating mental health, yoga, and neuroscience in medical research and education.
Pradeep Nair
Professor of New Media Studies and Director of Research at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, India. His multidisciplinary work lies at the intersection of communication, health governance, climate change, and sustainability. He has authored or co-authored over 60 scientific articles and serves on editorial and review boards of several international journals. His research bridges the nexus of climate, health, media studies, and public policy.