10th International Ayurveda Day in France — 19 September 2026

On 19 September 2026, Welbeo had the pleasure of attending the 10th International Ayurveda Day in France, organised by the Centre Védantique Ramakrishna in Gretz-Armainvilliers, near Paris.

Conferences, workshops, practical sessions, meals and conversations shaped this anniversary edition around one recurring question: how can Ayurveda remain a living tradition today, rooted in India while continuing to develop in France?

This 10th-anniversary edition brought together conferences, plenary sessions, workshops, masterclasses, traditional ceremonies and an international forum around Ayurveda in France. The official programme is published by the Centre Védantique Ramakrishna.

Beyond the richness of the programme, what stayed with us most was the atmosphere and the people we met.

A warm atmosphere in a peaceful setting

From the moment we arrived, the tone was set. In the peaceful, green surroundings of Gretz-Armainvilliers, the day unfolded in a warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It was a setting that encouraged people to take their time: to listen, practise, and simply talk between sessions or over a meal.

Experienced practitioners and teachers mixed with wellness professionals and people who had come to discover Ayurveda or deepen their understanding of it.

That diversity made the event particularly approachable. You could listen to a conference on the foundations of Ayurveda, continue the conversation informally a few minutes later, and then join a practical workshop.

Ayurveda in France today

Many conversations naturally explored Ayurveda's place in contemporary life: what is its relevance today? How is practice evolving in India? How is it being taught and adapted in France? How can the foundations of an ancient tradition be preserved while responding to modern realities?

The programme brought together Dr Partap Chauhan, Vaidya Atreya Smith, Vaidya Rajalakshmi Chellappan, Dr Dominique Leyronnas, Isabelle Imbert, Vincent Maréchal, Jacques Wahl, Selvi Sarkar, Vanessa Gheorghiu, Swâmi Atmarupananda and Swâmi Bhajanananda, among others.

Kiran Vyas, an important figure in Ayurveda in France, and H.E. Mr Sanjeev Singla, Ambassador of India to France, were also announced in the programme but were ultimately unable to attend. Their absence and contribution were nevertheless acknowledged during the event.

The range of subjects reflected the breadth of Ayurveda itself: prevention, food and spices, marma, panchakarma, psychology according to the Caraka Samhita, massage, breathing, the home environment and dialogue with Western medicine.

A day to experience Ayurveda, not only talk about it

This was one of the aspects we appreciated most. Ayurveda was not presented only through lectures.

Throughout the day, participants could experience different practices through workshops: Ayurvedic head massage, marma work, breathing practices, Ayurvedic cooking, yoga and other practical approaches.

The programme included an introduction to head massage with Jacques Wahl, a workshop on the five breaths with Vincent Maréchal, marma work with Vaidya Rajalakshmi Chellappan and a session on preparing ghee with Vanessa Gheorghiu.

The experience extended to the food as well. Vegetarian Ayurvedic food accompanied the day, offering another way to experience Ayurveda as something that reaches beyond teachings and techniques into food and everyday life.

We especially appreciated this combination: listening, discussing, practising, sharing a meal and meeting the people who are bringing Ayurveda to life in France.

Cross-perspectives: two experiences, one tradition

Among the discussions Welbeo attended, we particularly appreciated the cross-perspectives session between Vaidya Rajalakshmi Chellappan and Vaidya Atreya Smith.

Rather than a conventional lecture, the format created space for a conversation between two practitioners with different backgrounds and experiences. It naturally brought forward a theme that ran throughout the day: transmission.

How do we preserve the foundations of a practice rooted in an ancient tradition? How does that tradition evolve when it is taught and practised in different contexts? And how can it continue to be passed on to new generations of practitioners?

That was precisely the kind of exchange we had come to find.

Meeting the people who bring wellness to life

At Welbeo, we spend a great deal of time thinking about the tools wellness professionals need: visibility, bookings, organising their activity and maintaining relationships with their clients.

But this day reminded us of something essential:

before building tools for practitioners, we need to keep meeting them and listening to them.

The informal conversations throughout the day were just as interesting as the conferences. They revealed very different professional journeys, different ways of practising and transmitting a discipline, and the practical realities of working independently.

For Welbeo, attending events like this is also a way to better understand the community we are building our platform for. These meetings and conversations will continue to shape how we develop Welbeo.

A day that made us want to continue the conversation

The 10th edition continued into the evening with an international forum on “Ayurveda: universal wisdom for the 21st century”, bringing together several speakers from the day.

The programme also announced the participation of Kiran Vyas and H.E. Mr Sanjeev Singla, who were ultimately unable to attend and were acknowledged during the event.

We left Gretz-Armainvilliers with new connections, plenty to reflect on and, above all, a desire to continue these conversations with practitioners and people working across wellness in France.

Thank you to the organisers, speakers and everyone we met for their welcome and conversations.

See you out in the field.