Plough to Pose: Vijayawada Farmers Turn to Yoga for Health and Harmony
What Farmers Are Saying
In the heart of Andhra Pradesh’s farming belt, where hands are more accustomed to sickles than sun salutations, something refreshing is taking root. On a warm morning at BRTS Yoga Street in Vijayawada, dozens of farmers rolled out yoga mats instead of walking into their fields — embracing a new path to wellness and inner balance.
As part of the month-long “Yoga Andhra” campaign leading up to International Yoga Day (June 21), a special ‘Farmers’ Thematic Yoga’ session was organized by the AYUSH Department, NTR District Administration, and the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation — and the response was inspiring.
🌾 Farmers Find Peace in Postures
Farming is no easy feat. Long hours under the sun, bending, lifting, walking through muddy fields — it takes a toll on the body and mind. That’s exactly why these yoga sessions, specially tailored for farmers, struck a chord.
“After just a few stretches, I felt relief in my back and shoulders,” said Ramesh, a 52-year-old paddy farmer from the outskirts of Vijayawada. “I never imagined something as simple as breathing and moving slowly could make such a difference.”
The yoga session included a blend of gentle asanas, pranayama (breathing techniques), and guided meditation, helping farmers decompress from the physical demands and mental stress of agriculture.
🧑🌾 A Field Day With Officials
Joining the farmers on the mat were Dr. S. Dilli Rao, Director of the State Agriculture Department, NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha, and VMC Commissioner H.M. Dhyanachandra.
Dr. Rao, himself taking part in the session, emphasized how yoga isn’t just for the urban elite.
“Yoga is India’s ancient gift to the world — but it belongs just as much to our farmers as to anyone else. A healthy farmer is the foundation of a healthy nation,” he said.
He urged farmers to make yoga a part of their daily lifestyle, not just for physical flexibility, but for emotional balance and stress relief.
🌿 Yoga Andhra Campaign: Stretching Across the State
The Yoga Andhra initiative (running from May 21 to June 21) is designed to bring yoga into every corner of the state — from classrooms to farmlands.
This year, themed sessions are being conducted for various groups — farmers, women, youth, senior citizens, and school students — with an aim to make yoga truly inclusive.
💬 What Farmers Are Saying
After the session, many farmers expressed surprise at how effective and easy yoga felt, even for those with no prior experience.
“I thought yoga was just for TV gurus. But now I realize it’s for people like us too,” said Lakshmi, a 45-year-old vegetable grower. “I’m going to teach these poses to my husband and children.”
🧘♀️ A New Kind of Empowerment
In a profession as taxing as farming, self-care is often ignored. But with efforts like these, that mindset is slowly changing. As mats were rolled up and chai was shared, there was a clear sense that this wasn’t just a wellness session — it was a movement in the making.
From ploughing fields to mastering poses, Vijayawada’s farmers are proving that true strength lies in flexibility — of body, mind, and spirit.
