International Yoga Day was marked once again at the Rumsey Centre of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Toronto by the Canada India Foundation (CIF) in partnership with UHN Foundation. UHN is among the world’s leading hospitals and ranks first among publicly funded medical institutions. The event drew a substantial number of participants, many of whom already take part in the regular yoga classes held at the UHN rehab centre in partnership with the Canada India Foundation. 2026 marked the 12th International Day of Yoga, following the suggestion to the United Nations by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, that June 21 be observed as Yoga Day.
Twelve-year cycles also carry significance in India for their importance in astronomical, biological, spiritual and mythological terms. Such a
cycle is represented as one unit of time, known as pushkara in Sanskrit. Fittingly, the partnership between CIF and UHN Foundation took a notable turn this year, as a plaque honouring the Canada India Foundation was unveiled at UHN’s Rumsey Rehab Centre. The unveiling took place in the presence of its Medical Director, Dr. Paul Oh; Shauna Seabrook, VP-Major Gifts, UHN Foundation; Ritesh Malik, Chair, CIF; Satish Thakkar, Immediate Past Chair; Pankaj Dave, National Convener, and Sanjay Makkar, National Co-Convener, CIF; and Kuljeet Singh Arora, from the Consulate General of India.
The plaque records the following members for their contribution to UHN Foundation in support of research that would encourage integrative medicine practice in Canada : Kothari Family Foundation, Dr. Harish V. Kumar, Dr. Indira Khurana, Dr. Lucky Lakshmanan, Ritesh Malik, Anil Shah, the late Ambrish Thakkar and Satish Thakkar.
CIF and UHN had jointly launched a $1 million fund in 2021 to help support research into traditional medicines and their possible adaptation into modern medical practice.
Ritesh Malik, Chair, CIF, recalled the beginning of what he described as a “flourishing partnership,” when UHN approached CIF with the need to translate booklets related to cardiac care into Hindi and Punjabi. “Most meaningful partnerships begin with the simplest of acts,” he noted, thanking UHN for opening the doors to yoga and supporting CIF’s efforts in advancing the cause of Ayurveda and Yoga to help Canadians
with their wellness and holistic health.
Speaking on the immediate and nearterm priorities set by the partnership, Ritesh explained: “We are working on measurable outcomes on how this benefits all stakeholders. We want to bring yoga into mainstream healthcare because we know it works. Our task now is to give it the rigour, the recognition and the place it deserves in patient care.”
Ritesh thanked the entire CIF membership, UHN partners, and well-wishers around the world for bringing this novel collaboration between CIF and UHN Foundation to a sound footing. Beyond the clinical collaboration, CIF has been actively advocating for the regulation of Yoga therapy as a recognized profession in Ontario. With chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders and stress-related illnesses placing growing pressure on the healthcare system, CIF believes that evidence based integrative approaches can ease that burden while improving patient outcomes.
Canada currently lacks a standardized framework for the training, certification and regulation of Yoga therapy professionals – an absence that can lead to inconsistencies in education, competency and quality of care. CIF is calling on the Government of Ontario to support the development of a comprehensive certification and accreditation framework, including standardized education and training, accreditation of certifying institutions, integration with multidisciplinary care, exploration of insurance coverage, and research partnerships to evaluate the clinical and economic benefits.
“Yoga is among the most widely practised disciplines in the world for preventive health, and Canadians deserve to access it through trained, certified professionals,” said Ritesh Malik. “By establishing clear standards, Ontario can lead the way toward a more holistic, patient-centred and cost-effective model of care – and position Canada as a global leader in integrative and preventive healthcare.”
Earlier, welcoming the guests and participants, Dr. Oh noted the positive impact of yoga and meditation as a total “philosophy of life” that can lead to better outcomes for patients as well as overall wellness for all. “Globally, including with the All India Institute of Ayurveda, we have been working with institutions to develop protocols to explore traditional medicines and find out how they impact blood sugar and other chronic conditions,” he said. “Our collaboration with CIF began years ago. This partnership has allowed us to explore clinical and research opportunities to bring together the thousands of years of wisdom in Ayurveda practices, as well as yoga and meditation, into our own treatment protocols.
“We will also study how yoga can be adapted into cardiac rehab as a regular part not something on the side, but as an integral part of the program- and what impact it might have on the markers we traditionally measure. How does it affect blood pressure, stress or anxiety? How might it change the trajectory of recovery in reducing future heart attacks or strokes? These are exciting avenues that we can explore together, and we are delighted to do this in tandem with people who bring such a wealth of clinical experience and leadership to our institutions.”
Dr. Oh also pointed to ambitious future expansions, including wellness studios that combine the best of both worlds. In the same spirit, CIF and UHN are working toward a dedicated space at UHN where yoga can be made more accessible to everyone who looks to UHN for holistic health.
