This International Yoga Day, learn the art of Yoga from 98-year-old Nanammal Amma, India’s oldest Yoga guru. A vision of strength and perfection, Nanammal Amma puts most of her young students to shame as she lifts her legs and stretches her frail body to 90 degrees.
Nanammal Does Not Shirk Hard Work & Discipline
The nonagenarian has been practicing the ancient discipline since the age of three and has mastered over 50 Yoga asans. Even at this age, when she needs assistance to walk, Nanammal consistently practices Yoga three times a day and credits her longevity to the discipline.
Nanammal comes from a family that has been practicing this ancient physical and spiritual discipline for generations. She learnt Yoga from her grandfather and grandmother who died at the age of 107. Her five children, two daughters and three sons, also practice and teach yoga.
"Earlier, we would follow the grandfather. We did not know the names of those poses. We were hard working and believed in the magic of Yoga in staying fit. It keeps the body and mind calm and in control. Young people should follow it more,” she says.
It is because of my regular routine of practicing Yoga that I am still healthy and fit. I have not gone to a hospital ever. I treat myself with homemade medicines and Yoga.Nanammal Amma, 98-year-old Yoga Expert
She boasts of almost a hundred students from all age groups, who come to her home to learn Yoga.
Every morning, I wake up at 5 am to practice Yoga asanas. I teach students for nearly one hour; after that I take rest. Then I do it in the afternoon for an hour and in the evening before going to sleep.
“When I was young, I would do all forms of Yoga. But now I only do selective postures that help me stay fit,” says Nanammal. Her son Balakrishnan, who is also a Yoga expert like his mother, said: "We are immensely proud of our mother. She has won six gold medals in national level competitions for Yoga. She is not any Yoga guru, she lives for Yoga.”
A Yoga Session a Day, Keeps the Doctor Away?
“She does not have blood pressure, blood sugar or any kind of health problems. I have never seen my mother taking Allopathic medicines. She inspires us to live a healthy lifestyle. We have 36 members in the family and all are following in her footsteps,” says Balakrishnan.
The granny believes that whoever learns the discipline from her would live for 100 years.
"Whoever learns Yoga from me stays in good health. They will live as long as 100 years without any disease," promises Nanammal.
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
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