SARVAM and Pudiya Udayam 91.2 community radio, in partnership with the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), Ministry of Ayush, held awareness and practical demonstrations for about 3000 people, including women and children, in the 20 project villages from 25th May to 21st June 2023.

SARVAM has been celebrating International Yoga Day every year. This year, SARVAM enthusiastically celebrated International Yoga Day for one month, from 25th May to 22nd June 2023.

This year the theme of Yoga Day is 'Yoga For Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', yoga for the welfare of all in the form of 'One World-One Family'. It emphasises the spirit of yoga, which unites and takes everyone along.

On account of International Yoga Day, with support from the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) and the Ministry of Ayush, SARVAM and Pudiya Udayam 91.2 community radio jointly hosted awareness programmes and practical demonstrations for around 3000 people, including women and children, in the 20 project villages.

SARVAM selected 30 volunteers from 20 villages for this yoga programme. Initially, an expert yoga trainer trained these 30 village volunteers. The training focused on yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation that can help cure health problems and reduce stress and pain.

Our village volunteers travelled from door to door, street to street, to teach yoga during their leisure time. They soon spread the knowledge of yoga to many people in the village. This enabled people to practice it daily, bringing about a sense of calmness and peace. This, in turn, improved their physical and mental health.

People became more relaxed and stress-free, resulting in better productivity and overall well-being in the village. Through this initiative, the village experienced an improved quality of life with more harmony and connection among its people. The villagers were also able to apply the knowledge of yoga to their everyday life, making it a part of their lifestyle. These activities help the villagers to stay positive and cope with anxiety and depression. They also help to build physical and mental resilience, enabling them to better navigate life's challenges.

These sessions combine movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being. It is now practised in all the villages. It is said to help reduce stress, improve posture and flexibility, and increase strength and balance.

Now villagers understand yoga is suitable for all ages and fitness levels and can be done in a group setting or alone. The programme also helped to improve concentration and focus and reduce anxiety and depression. People realised that yoga is a great way to stay active and healthy.

The students, community members, and volunteers felt a positive energy inside and around them after successfully undergoing yoga for a month.