USHA Organises Its First Yoga Session In Maharashtra's Lakhori Village

The Power of One is the theory that one person's actions can change the lives of many. And nowhere is that more true than in Lakhori village. This small village of roughly 3,000 people is located in Bhandara district in Maharashtra. USHA International's master trainer, Varsha, opened her Silai school in Lakhori after first learning how to sew, and then rising to become a master trainer.

Also Read: USHA And Northern Railways Join Hands To Make Jaipur Women Financially Independent

She has trained many to become financially independent, like herself, by teaching them stitching, a means of livelihood for many women in villages across India.

Silai training had to be conducted in different villages, and travelling used to be a challenge. I would either go with someone in their vehicle or wait for an autorickshaw. It was very time consuming. It was getting difficult to manage time with the amount of work I had, and so I felt the need for a vehicle. That is when I thought of charging a fee for the training I gave in the villages. I made a profit from the training work, and earned Rs 60,000 in a month. I gained confidence and was able to deal with my problems. I saved more money and bought a scooter. Today I ride my scooter to wherever the work is and receive a lot of support. It was possible only with the USHA Silai School. I sew clothes at home and take care of household expenses. My monthly income is good. My earnings are as good as those of a government paid job. I feel good.

Ms. Varsha has gathered many women from the village and from Lakhani tehsil, to talk about the importance of being ‘skilled'. But it isn't just skills and livelihoods that she teaches. She is also talking about the importance of health for women, especially working women. She's encouraging them to come for the first ever yoga session organised by USHA in their village.

Most of these women are housewives turned entrepreneurs thanks to USHA and Ms. Varsha. It's the morning of the Yoga camp and the women of Lakhori are walking to the local Ayush Kendra for their first Yoga session. USHA has built a trusting relationship with both young and old people. That's why it has only taken one call by the USHA master trainer for so many women from Lakhori and elsewhere in the tehsil to come for Yoga.

While Varsha and her other associates at USHA planned for 60 women to come, an overwhelming 135 participants have turned up to register at the Yoga session, which includes women, young girls and children. There is rangoli to welcome the participants and a Yoga guru, Maharudra Shete, to lead the practice. Varsha will assist by replicating the asana's for the women to follow. 

When a husband practises Yoga, he does it for himself. But when a wife or a mother practises Yoga, it brings happiness for the whole family. So, we should focus on women, and especially mothers, when it comes to practising Yoga. We've seen that practising Yoga is no less than a boon for women, Mr. Shete said.

Also Read: Through Silai School, USHA And Rourkela Steel Plant Are Providing Skill Development To Women In Odisha

From literacy to money matters, nutrition and health to livelihood, empowering a woman means empowering her family, her society, and her community. Their health and well-being depend on her health and well-being. And if the woman of the house inculcates a healthy lifestyle in her children, from an early age , leading by example, then an entire generation can be made conscious of good health.

In addition to promoting local traditions and crafts, USHA has also been working to promote local sports that may be on the verge of dying out completely or may have faded from public consciousness. USHA wants to re-familiarize the people of India with the sports and health activities of their regions. The women of the USHA Silai School are also playing key roles in organising, promoting, and participating in these events.

Today, Yoga is practised worldwide by millions of people in many forms and variations. At its core, it is a mind-body practise combining physical posture, breathing techniques, and meditation for both health and relaxation.

Rita Anil, a Silai School entrepreneur, said, 

It is important to earn a living, but it is also important to live a healthy life. Yoga is important for a healthy lifestyle, to remain free from disease. If one doesn't practise Yoga, all the money we earn will be wasted on medicines and doctor's visits.

Silai School Entrepreneur, Anita Govardhan, said, 

You meditate while performing Yoga which helps you get rid of any mental stress. Yoga is the only thing that makes it possible.

Also Read: Here's How USHA And Meghalaya Government Are Giving Employment Opportunities To Women And Protecting Environment

Sharequa, a master trainer from Lakhani, has travelled to learn Yoga at the USHA Yoga Session for the very first time. She believes that Yoga combats much more than just illness, and her own journey from learner to master trainer has been inspiring.

I'm proud to be associated with USHA. Why? Because, I used to do sewing earlier, but I hadn't really established myself. But after coming to USHA, I became a student, then a teacher, and then a master trainer. Today, I have an identity, which is well established.

Ms. Rita and Ms. Govardhan are among the entrepreneurs of the USHA Silai School who have found financial independence by learning how to stitch and sew. Learning Yoga has liberated them in a different way.  So, a good start for yoga in Lakhori, and if the bright smiles on these women's faces and their enjoyment of the first yoga session are any indication, yoga, and the promise of a healthier Lakhori, are here to stay.