A nonagenarian’s tryst with Yoga

Adilabad: At a time when majority of people struggling to cope with geriatric issues even from the middle age, this nonagenarian, mother of a dozen children, has all the energy that can leave her entire family gasping for breath when it comes to the fitness levels. The mantra she believed in is yoga. For over five decades now, the 93-year-old Vojjala Lalitha Bai, who has been practising yoga, is a symbol of health discipline.

After the death of her husband Shankaraiah some 32 years ago, the biggest challenge Lalitha Bai, who hails from Luxettipet town in Mancherial district, had come across in her life was a serious back injury, which she suffered due to a slip-and-fall accident a couple of years ago.

The doctors, who diagnosed her injury, felt that she might not be able to stand again on her own. However, Lalitha Bai proved them wrong showing immense will power. Much to the surprise of the physicians, she recovered within six months and was able to walk. 

All that she believed in was yoga and it paid dividends. Lalitha Bai, who began doing yoga taking a cue from her elder sister Amrutha Bai, stands out as a beacon and testament to best health practices to her entire family that numbers 200 plus.

She wakes up at around 4 am and does yoga for about two hours without a miss. After the advent of television shows, Lalitha Bai, a strict vegetarian, added more Asanas (exercising postures) to her repertoire, which she learned from her sister. She not only prods her family members to take up yoga but also imparts a few techniques to maintain fitness levels.

Speaking to The Hans India, Lalitha Bai said: “Yoga has multiple therapeutic benefits and it keeps us fit if we make it part of our lives. I like to do my daily routines on my own without anybody’s help.” Chith Prakash, the fifth of the seven Lalitha Bai’s sons, said: “My mother is a very tough woman with sheer determination.

Her passion for yoga never diminished in last five decades or so. She keeps shuttling between all my brothers and sisters and spends time with her fifth-generation kids.” Referring to the back injury his mother suffered, he said that it was a miraculous comeback. As yoga gurus say that healing can happen in meditation, he added.