HYDERABAD: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday announced a partnership with Dhyana, a meditation-tracking startup backed by the Indian badminton team chief coach Pullela Gopichand. The IOA has acquired smart Dhyana rings and Dhyana’s health management services for the entire Indian contingent headed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Developed by Gopichand and Oxford University alumnus and biomedical technology entrepreneur, Bhairav Shankar, the smart Dhyana ring is capable of measuring ‘mindful minutes’ or the amount of time spent during a meditation session by a player. It does this by continuously tracking a player's Heart Rate Variability (HRV) or the gap in between two consecutive heartbeats.
Dhyana rings have been used by Gopichand to help his students achieve their ‘mindfulness goals’ - which range from improving focus, productivity to overall mental health.
“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is going to be extremely challenging owing to the exceptional circumstances it is being held in. I have always relied on the benefits of meditation throughout my entire career - both as a player and as a coach, and am confident that data-driven meditation with the help of Dhyana will greatly benefit the Indian contingent to prepare better and help them unlock their full potential,” said Gopichand, who is also the director of Dhyana.
In 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) summit in Lausanne was in consensus about ensuring mental wellness in sports. In India, the IOA has not only recognised the importance of mental wellness, but is drawing from its cultural roots to address it with technology. Dhyana, which is made in India, hence becomes the first official meditation device to be used at the Olympics.
“Research shows us that Dhyana helps provide a measurable and scientific way of tackling stress, increasing focus and building a positive state-of-mind through the power of meditation”, said Bhairav Shankar, Dhyana MD.
“IOA is proud to team up with Dhyana to provide state-of-the-art medical-grade technology to the Indian contingent headed to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games”, said Rajeev Mehta, secretary general, IOA. “With Dhyana's support, we will provide each member of the team with the wearable meditation device which is capable of providing crucial biofeedback during meditation. Data-driven and measured meditation can help athletes in ensuring that they meditate properly for a certain amount of time every day, thereby easing stress and improving their focus and concentration”.
