V. Nanammal , yoga teacher

Do you know about India’s oldest yoga teacher? V. Nanammal taught a million students for over 45 years, attempted the Guinness world record, and practised the art till her last days. Popularly known as ‘yoga grandma,’ she could do more than 50 yoga poses, including the Sirshasana (headstand), the Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend) and the mayurasana (peacock pose), all in her usual attire —a simple pink saree. She taught the art to lakhs of students, some of whom went on to become instructors around the world.

Nanammal died at the age of 99, three months short of 100 years, on 26 October 2019. Her son V. Balakrishnan said, “Mother taught yoga to over 100 students daily at our centre till the day she was bedridden. In fact, at 99, she travelled with me to Malaysia, Singapore, and Muscat and performed yoga. She had an excellent memory and eyesight till the day she died. She made it a point to practise Sirshasana every day — this is what kept her healthy.""""

Nanammal had even attempted the Guinness Book of Records by teaching yoga to 20,000 students in Coimbatore. V. Nanammal and her family started the Ozone Yoga centre in 1972. Balakrishnan said that the centre teaches yoga in around 980 schools in Tamil Nadu and also teaches Silambam martial arts, where the yoga guru dedicates two hours during the day for this purpose. Nanammal is famous among naturopathy followers and also popular on YouTube.