Holistic health is currently a topic of great interest worldwide and recent research speaks of the need of integrating traditional and modern healing methods to serve care seekers better. Salutogenesis is an approach that attempts to address the individual as one complete person rather than a diagnosis. This is being pioneered in India by the Institute of Salutogenesis & Complementary Medicine (ISCM) of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Deemed to be University, Pondicherry.
The School of Music Therapy, ISCM of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry recently organised an International Conference on “Music for Healthfulness” on 3rd and 4th September 2024. This was organised in collaboration with the Cambridge Institute of Music Therapy Research, Anglia Ruskin University, UK and SVARAM, Auroville.
“A holistic multidimensional approach towards health and wellness is the need of the hour and a salutogenic perspective enables us to serve humanity in the best way possible” said Prof Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Vice Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth in his inaugural address. Prof AR Srinivasan, Registrar SBV and Prof Ashok Kumar Das, Dean Academics SBV were present on the occasion.
The International conference saw the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between SBV and SVARAM, the pioneering sound healing centre in Auroville. The existing MoU with Anglia Ruskin University was also extended for another 5 years.
The founder of SVARAM, Mr Aurelio was honured with Lifetime Achievement Award for his yeoman contribution to music as a healing modality on the occasion. Prof AR Srinivasan, Registrar SBV and Prof Sivaprakash, the Head of Department of Psychiatry at MGMCRI were honoured for their pioneering contributions towards growth of music therapy at SBV.
Dr Annie Heiderscheit who heads the Cambridge Institute of Music Therapy Research in the Anglia Ruskin University spoke on the importance of music as a healing modality in dealing with a variety of health issues. She expressed her deep pleasure in witnessing the innovative work being done at Pondicherry in the field of Music Therapy. “I was here in 2013 and I am glad to see the phenomenal growth and development that has manifested at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth in the field of music therapy in the past decade.” “We are looking forward to a great deal of intercontinental academic and research collaborations with SBV” said she.
“ISCM is one of its kind and this combination of music and yoga therapy in a healthcare university is indeed an example of the integration of the best of the east and west” said Aurelio the founder of SVARAM.
More than 100 delegates from England, Austria, Australia, Ireland, Wales and USA participated in the two-day deliberations that featured scintillating invited talks by eminent resource persons, paper presentations and poster presentations by research scholars along with a invigorating panel discussion on the Bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of health.
A new healing space “Swasthya Guha” was inaugurated at ISCM that will facilitate inherent healing potential of each participant through the use of vibrational sound. This has been created in collaboration with SVARAM, Auroville and sponsored by the Alumni Association of MGMCRI, SBV.
“This space is so refreshing and will surely enable all your patients will feel much better as it harmonises mind-body and spirit” said Prof DC Mathangi, Head of the Mind Body Medicine and Lifestyle Sciences at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai.
The event was organised by ISCM of SBV team led by its Director, Prof Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani and Prof R Sobana, the Admin-in-charge School of Music Therapy along with their dynamic team.
