The Karate Kid can now move aside. Enter home-grown yoga prodigy Dhruv Sharma. Just 7, his yoga chops have earned him quite a name, both in India and abroad.
Vasundhara boy Dhruv, a Class III student of Ghaziabad’s Allenhouse Public School, was introduced to yoga by instructors at school, and a little push from his naani (maternal grandmom) set the ball rolling.
“His naani introduced him to the discipline — she does basic yoga. My son took to it from the very beginning. But one day he could not perform an asana in front of one of his instructors — and he took it to heart. Ever since, he has dedicated himself to yoga and practises every day,” says Vinita, Dhruv’s mother.
So what’s Dhruv’s daily life like?
Not too different from that of a professional trainer. Ghaziabad News
Says the yoga prodigy rather seriously, “I wake up early in the morning and start my day with Surya Namaskar, followed by a short workout and some basic stretching. Then I go to school. Once I am back in the afternoon, I have my lunch and nap for a couple of hours. After I get up, I practise for about an hour again.”
And he has to mind his diet too.
“I need to eat and sleep well. My diet comprises roti, dal, lots of fruits, vegetables, pulses and milk. This lifestyle is good for both physical and mental health — it also makes your body flexible,” explains Dhruv, rather precociously.
When Dhruv went to Sri Lanka this year as the cultural icon of his school on the occasion of International Yoga Day, he created quite a stir. “The Boy Wonder... Little Yoga Master... Dhruv of Allen House Public School Ghaziabad. The Sri Lanka audience was mesmerised by him,” wrote Radha Venkataraman, assistant high commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.
“We are really proud that our son is getting acclaim for a cause as positive as yoga. We completely support his activities and will continue to do so,” gushes Vinita.
At home, supported by his parents, Dhruv has started taking yoga sessions at the neighbourhood park, along with a few others.
Dhruv knows he has a long journey ahead, and all he can do is prepare.
