TUMAKURU: For 81-year-old G V Venkatanarayana Shastri, yoga is something he has been practising for over three decades.He performs almost all the postures including the ‘nouli’-a signature cleaning exercise of Baba Ramdev, the ‘shirshasana’ -a perpendicular headstand and ‘mayura padmasana’-lotus in peacock pose. He has taught thousands of people so far.
Shashtri is a popular dietitian who made a name for himself as ‘molake shastri’ (one who lives mainly on raw grain sprouts). It was when he was in his 30s when he suffered from many ailments including stomach ulcers.
Variety of medications did not work out for him following which he decided to switch to sprouts, fruits and juices. He never went to a doctor or took medicines. “Diseases go away if we are on proper diet and practise yoga,” he said. Compiling his own experience he has penned four books and it took almost five years for him to write ‘Rogadinda Yogada Kadege’ (from ailments towards yoga) which saw two editions and copies sold like hot cakes. The BSc graduate worked in the telecom department.
Shastri wakes up at 2.30am and goes for a bath applying copra oil and prepares his body for yoga. “I go with the normal cold water as I start from the feet and the oil acts as an insulator and as a result I never get the chills,” he added.
Mysuru all set too
Elaborate arrangements have been made for Intl Yoga Day at Mysore Race Club ground on Thursday. The 2-hour session will have 80,000 yoga enthusiasts performing 47 asanas.