On the occasion of International Yoga Day, here is a story of one man who continues to teach this ancient practice despite losing both his legs to a road accident late last year. Mrutyunjaya Hiremath, a yoga teacher from Hubballi city in Karnataka, is an inspiration to all of us.
It was on November 11, 2017, when a speeding lorry collided with Hiremath’s two-wheeler on Magadi Road in Bengaluru and took away both his legs, reported the Times of India.
“My commitment to yoga has not died down. I started teaching yoga to people despite having lost my legs. I teach Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama, Suryanamaskar, Janusirasana, Halasana and other aspects of yoga by sitting on a chair now. Sometimes, I train a person and allow him to teach others,” Hiremath told the publication.
Hiremath currently lives with his sister at Vidyanagar in Hubballi.
A native of Pala village in Mundagod, Hiremath came to Hubballi nearly two decades ago in search of work. After learning yoga, he made his way to the Brahma Kumaris Ashram at Mount Abu, Rajasthan, for what he calls spiritual enlightenment. He taught yoga there.
However, due to problems in the family, he returned to Hubballi.
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“I arrived in Bengaluru in 2014 where I taught the ancient practice to four-five batches at Nagarbhavi, Tunganagar, Machohalli and other areas daily. But, I met with an accident on November 11, 2017. After staying at a hospital for a month, I came back to Hubballi. Now, I have Jaipur artificial limbs and can walk with the support of a cane,” he tells the publication.
However, he needs Rs 3-4 lakh to acquire advanced artificial limbs that will enable him to walk without any support, thus allowing him to further his passion. He is currently teaching yoga for free at the Rambapuri Kalyan Mantap in Vidyanagar, Hubballi.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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