A village united through yoga

Nestled near the lush green Kappatagudda hills near Gadag, a serene village called Papanashi, with a population of around 1,300, has emerged as a hub of yoga practice in recent years.

. Every morning and evening, the streets of Papanashi come alive with villagers, including seniors, women and children, practising Pranayama and asanas on platforms and in some open fields. Yoga classes are held in the school and after school hours, and many have participated in state and national-level competitions, too.

. “Poornima Katiggar, a student from our village, participated in the National Yoga Olympiad this year. Not only her, but several other students have excelled in state and national competitions over the last five years,” says Sudha Patil, a yoga instructor and national referee.

. Papanashi was introduced to yoga in 2020 when the Union Ministry of Ayush started promoting yoga actively. Recognising the potential health benefits, Dr Ashok Mattigatti, an Ayurvedic doctor and yoga practitioner, along with Sudha Patil, who was appointed as a yoga instructor at the local health centre, encouraged people to opt for the programme.

. They started by visiting homes and encouraging villagers to learn yoga for fitness and health improvement. Many initially hesitated, citing household chores and farm work as reasons to avoid joining. It took persistence, but eventually, many agreed to give it a try.

. Just as the yoga movement was gaining traction, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, halting in-person sessions. However, the villagers did not give up. They began practising the yoga asanas they had learned at home and in the fields.

. The practice has made a tangible difference for many. Take Shivamma Dadwad, an Anganwadi worker from the village, for instance. “Over time, I have seen significant improvements in my health,” she says. Now, she encourages other women in the village to continue their yoga practice.

. Yoga for the next gen

. Kavana, a Class 12 student from the village, has been practising yoga since she was in Class 7. Her interest sparked when the villagers began learning yoga, and the local instructor saw her potential. “The yoga instructor encouraged her to participate in yoga competitions across the country. She has won several of them, and it has been an amazing journey,” says Kavana’s father, Virupakshagouda, a farmer.

. “Yoga not only helps keep our kids fit but also instills discipline, self-control, and enhances their concentration,” says Manjunath Gauri, a constable with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and a native of Papanashi.

. Today, Dr Mattigatti continues to support the community by sharing yoga videos through a WhatsApp group. He also conducts special monthly sessions at the local health centre, where villagers are checked for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and are taught yoga techniques to manage these conditions.

. What began as a small, community-driven effort has now transformed Papanashi into a model yoga village.

A village united through yoga

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