Kunnamthanam
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India's "first Yoga" village
The sleepy village of Kunnamthanam is set to become Kerala’s first ‘Complete Yoga Village’, and hopes to set a national record. It is already attracting churches, temple devaswoms, and social organisations with its offer of universal training.
At the heart of the effort is the local panchayat’s ‘My village, healthy village’ project launched in association with the Thiruvalla-based Pranavom Yoga Centre (PYC), which works to popularise the ancient health system.
The panchayat will give free training to the entire village. “Our aim is to make yoga an integral part of lifestyle. The first phase of training will be at 28 places in all the 15 wards till May 31,” panchayat president K.K. Radhakrishna Kurup said.
PYC director and yoga instructor M.G. Dileep is leading the hour-long sessions. At least one member in every family would be offered training, he said. The ward members concerned are coordinating the training classes in the respective panchayat wards.The project has received good public response, cutting across religious and political boundaries, Mr. Kurup said.
The first yoga training session was held at St. Mary’s Sehion Orthodox church in Kunnamthanam on March 22, with the Vicar, Fr. C.K. Kurien, also present. Training for every household is the key goal to bid for the ‘Complete Yoga Village’ title, and make a declaration on World Yoga Day, June 21.
Mr. Kurup said the panchayat and the PYC would jointly host a mega yoga show. As the members move towards the June target, monasteries, temple grounds, church halls, old age homes, housing colonies for the underprivileged, homes for the destitute and disabled will all come alive with yoga sessions.
The panchayat, which is campaigning for ‘at least 30 minutes of yoga along with daily prayer,’ has sent the project details to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Kurup said.
