On 27 April 2025, the 3rd Integrative Med Yoga Conference was held in Pécs, organised in English by the University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, and the Good By Stress with Yoga (GSY) Research Group, with the support of the Health Sciences Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Pécs Regional Committee. This year, the conference welcomed participants in the newly inaugurated lecture hall building of the Medical School of the University of Pécs.

The event’s motto – "Promoting Health and Well-Being through Integrative Medicine" – closely aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the World Health Organization’s emphasis on holistic, non-pharmaceutical approaches in prevention and treatment.

The conference drew over 120 registered guests, including national and international experts, clinicians, researchers, PhD and undergraduate/graduate students, as well as members of the local community. During the official opening, the audience was addressed by Prof Dr Pongrác Ács, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Mr József Attila Móring, Government Commissioner for the Development of the South Transdanubian Region and Member of Parliament. Both emphasised the significance of the event and the region’s commitment to health sciences. The Commissioner particularly highlighted the importance of body–mind–spirit unity in healing, as well as Hungary’s national assets—such as thermal waters—as tools in integrative medicine, and expressed admiration for Indian cultural wisdom, including yoga and Ayurveda.

The conference was opened by Shalini Chauhan MPH, PhD student, educator, and founder of the GSY Project, followed by Dr Viktória Prémusz, a senior lecturer of the Faculty of Health Sciences, who stressed in her address: “Scientific excellence and community engagement must go hand in hand if we are to build a truly healthier and more resilient society.” Wearing a traditional sari in tribute to Indian culture, Dr Prémusz underlined that yoga and Ayurveda offer one of the most promising integrative paths to sustaining and restoring health.

Throughout the day, a wide array of international researchers and health professionals shared their insights and latest findings. Keynote speaker Dr Taulant Muka, Swiss epidemiologist and former associate professor at the University of Bern, presented on the development of AI-driven health education through his Epistudia Centre.

Also among the distinguished speakers was Dr Nadeem Abbas, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department at Linnaeus University, Sweden, whose research spans artificial intelligence and adaptive software systems, while also advocating for reform in computer science education. A particularly moving contribution came from Ms Dahabo Adi Galgalo, Kenyan epidemiologist and PhD student, who presented her innovative maternal and infant mortality reduction project targeting nomadic communities.

A highlight of the programme was the online presentation by Dr Nidhi Jaswal PhD, DHP, DMC, founder of the KETAWA – Centre for Behaviour Change. Her talk, "Laughter Yoga and Well-Being: A Sentiment Analysis of Participant Feedback", explored the positive mental health effects of laughter-based yoga through emotional analysis of participant feedback. The audience also engaged in a lively laughter yoga practice, gaining first-hand experience of integrative health in action.

The conference also served as a space for deep, authentic reflection on yoga and Ayurveda traditions. Zsuzsanna Komjáti (BSc Yoga Master, theologian, President of the Hungarian Yoga Teachers' Association, and MSc student in Yoga and Vedic Therapy at SVYASA University) introduced the healing potential of Vedic therapy. Chandrika Chaitanya (Vedic Dharma Hindu Community, Leányfalu; Vaidika Pratisthanam Sangha, Granada, Spain) offered spiritual insights into the roots, present, and future of yoga. Dr Zope Rakesh Anil (Ayurveda Pulse Consultant, Budapest) examined how the integrated use of yoga and Ayurveda can strengthen the Hungarian health system.

Among Hungarian experts, Szilvia Rechnitzer, Head of the City Marketing Department at Pécs Mayor’s Office, discussed how yoga can contribute to urban well-being and quality of life.

In the afternoon, the conference hosted a special roundtable titled "SWATchat10", addressing “The Role of Integrative Approaches in Preventive Medicine.” The SWATchat (So What About This?) series fosters dialogue between researchers, students, and local communities on key topics such as holistic prevention and health consciousness. The discussion was chaired by Dr István Karsai, Director of the Sport Centre at the Medical School, with Shalini Chauhan moderating. Participants – Muka, Abbas, Galgalo, Prémusz, and Rechnitzer – agreed that effective prevention must consider physical, mental, and social dimensions, as well as local cultural contexts. Students were particularly engaged by discussions on AI’s role and ethical boundaries in health care. The organisers expressed special thanks to Dr Poorna Gunasekera, the visionary behind the Colors for Scholars project and Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, for his ongoing support and professional guidance, despite his remote participation.

Guests were treated to authentic Indian cuisine by local restaurant Fusion Grill, and the event concluded with an exclusive reception hosted by the Research Institute for Viticulture and Oenology of University of Pécs, fostering further networking and potential future collaborations.

Importantly, the event also offered practical experience of yoga's benefits: On Saturday, 26 April, more than 100 people took part in a group yoga session and demonstration as part of International University Yoga Day. The gathering in the Medical School Aula included traditional Indian dance, a GSY rhythmic yoga showcase, and guided group practice led by Shalini Chauhan. The aim was to promote community well-being and mind-body balance.

Participants praised the high quality, organisation, and community spirit of the event, seeing it as a promising sign for the future of integrative health care in Hungary.

On behalf of the University of Pécs and the GSY Research Group, heartfelt thanks go to all those who contributed with their presence, presentations, and support—united in a shared mission that treats health as a truly multidimensional value.

To express gratitude, GSY will offer community yoga sessions leading up to the International Yoga Day on 21 June 2025, to be held on Széchenyi Square in Pécs. Practice sessions will be organised at public spaces and cultural landmarks around the city on sundays. Details will be available via @gsy_goodby_stress on Instagram and Facebook

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