Administration | Appaa Yoga

Our Founder

Meet Our Founder: Pioneering the Fusion of Traditional Yoga and Modern Technology

Our Chairman & Founder

DR. ISHWAR V. BASAVARADDI

Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi is a renowned Yoga Scientist, Philosopher, and an eminent Yoga Master of international repute, with over 36 years of, teaching and research experience in the field of Yoga. Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi was the Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), for more than 18 years (2005 TO 2023) and was the founder Head of the Institution (HoI) of Yoga Certification Board (YCB) (2018 to 2023) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and has made remarkable contributions to the field of Yoga and traditional medicine.

Dr. Ishwar hails from small a village, Savadi of Gadag district in Karnataka. He is basically a Physicist having done his M.Sc. in Physics from Karnataka University, Dharwad. Later he turned to Yoga and Philosophy. He did M.A. in Philosophy, Ph. D. in Yoga Philosophy and had two P.G. Diploma’s, one in Yoga Education and another in Computer Applications to his credits.

He served as an Adviser to government of India for Yoga and Naturopathy for one Year (2019-2020). He had the additional charge of Director, Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, New Delhi from 2010 to 2012 and 2019 to 2020. He was also Head of WHO collaborative center for traditional medicine (Yoga) for more than 11 Years (2013-2023) His leadership has led to the expansion and modernization of MDNIY, making it a global center for Yoga education and research. Dr. Basavaraddi has also served as Faculty and Head of the Department of Yoga studies in Karnatak University, Dharwad for 16 years (1989-2005), and also served as the Managing Trustee of Vishwayatan Yoga Ashram from 2005 to 2008.

Dr. Basavaraddi had played a pivotal role in declaring Yogasana as a competitive sport by government of India. He was the first president of National Yogasana Sport Federation recognized by GoI and first senior vice president of International Yogasana Sport Federation. He also played a key role in introducing Yoga Olympiad, being conducted annually, by NCERT and played a pivotal role in introducing Yoga as a compulsory subject in all teacher’s education courses/programs being recognized by NCTE. He was the architect of Yoga Teachers Education Courses introduced for the arrmed forces, police and uniformed personnel under the directions of the honorable Prime Minister of India (2015-2023).

He is instrumental in establishing Advanced Yoga Therapy and Research Centers in Primer Medical Institutions (5), District Yoga Wellness Centers (159), Yoga Therapy and Research Centers in Medical Institutions (5), Yoga Wellness Centers in CGHS dispensaries (20) and etc. He served as the Member Secretary of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (Yoga) for more than 8 Years (2005-2013) and had played a pivotal role in getting the traditional Yoga knowledge and skills digitalized. As a member of Fit India Expert committee, He facilitated 6 age specific Yoga protocols for fit India campaign.

Dr. Basavaraddi is known for developing disease-specific Yoga protocols and Yoga protocols for various target groups. His dedication in promoting Yoga's holistic benefits and ensuring its integration into healthcare and daily life has made a significant impact on the wellness landscape, both in India and internationally. He has completed 10 major Research & Development projects, published more than 36 research papers, 28 booklets, 10 monographs, evaluated hundreds of research projects as Member and Chairman of different Research Project Evaluation Committees. He developed a Yoga protocol for Covid warriors, which helped lacks of covid warriors to keep their health and fitness to face the challenges.

He has provided Yoga education, training and therapy to thousands of Yoga teachers and millions of Yoga enthusiasts.

He is the principal architect of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), a widely practiced Yoga regimen adopted by millions of people across the globe. He also served as the member secretary of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) committee and the Master of ceremonies for all events of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) since 2015 to 2023. led by honorable Prime Minister of India. He is also the principal architect of WHO mYoga application for wellness, Y- break Yoga application being introduced at workplace for de-stress, refresh and refocus.

Dr. Ishwar was the founder Secretary General of Indian Yoga association (IYA), an association of all leading Yoga organization of India for more than 10 years and presently the member of its Governing Council. The concept and implementation of Yoga promotion projects e.g. National Yoga W eek, International Yoga Festival, Yoga Mahotsav, 100 Day’s countdown to IDY, etc. which were instrumental in making Yoga a mass moment are the brain children of Dr. Basavaraddi.

He widely, travelled abroad such as South Africa; Russia; Hungry; China; Thailand; Hong Kong; North Korea; Austria; Germany; Turkey; Italy; France, etc. many times and represented MDNIY and Government of India.

He also served as Chairperson/Member/Observer of several prestigious committees of the organizations/ bodies, e.g. UGC, NCTE, MHRD, DST, NCERT, NCTE, ICMR, ICCR, SAI, TKDL, Fit India, Railway Board, etc. both in public and private sectors, in his illustrious professional currier extended over more the three and half decades. He had played a key role in government of India’s all initiatives for the promotions and development of Yoga in India and abroad for nearly two decades in various capacities.