The tribal boys and girls studying in government tribal welfare school-cum-hostels, ashram schools, AP Tribal Welfare Residential schools in this remote area the mornings are no longer the same. Instead of waking up at 5.30 a.m. they are getting ready by 4.30 a.m. to attend yoga classes conducted by Patanjali Srinivas from Rajahmundry. “Though it is cold these young children are ready by 4.45 a.m. to attend the classes in open grounds,” said Srinivas. About 250 to 300 students from these three schools are attending the classes in both the morning and evening sessions.
In the first three days of the Yoga Camp at Addateegala, the attendance of the tribal students was less. When Mr. Srinivas had a meeting with wardens, parents and also some active students and explained the importance of yoga, the attendance started increasing.
“To my surprise it is cent per cent from the fifth day of my camp and I took classes to parents also in the evenings in Vedurunagaram for which tribal people from nearby hamlets attended,” said Patanjali Srinivas. Swasa, Dhyana, Kriya Yoga and Kapalabhat which cleans the lungs and increases blood circulation were taught to the students and also some of the ‘aasanas’ which increase concentration and memory power were taught.
Vedurunagaram Bhadram, sarpanch, said that no yoga teacher had camped continuously for 20 days in their village except Mr. Srinivas.