Sharing the Benefits of Yoga, Wellbeing and Indian Heritage

Following the success of previous initiatives, the Wakefield Branch of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK) completed another inspiring Yoga outreach programme across local schools in June 2026, reaching an even larger number of students than before.

The programme began on 2 June 2026 and continued throughout the month, bringing the benefits of yoga to nearly 1,150 students across four schools through 40 engaging sessions. The sessions were delivered by a dedicated team of eight instructors, who generously contributed their time and expertise.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK), commonly known as HSS (UK), is a voluntary cultural and community organisation that promotes personal development, wellbeing, family values, community service, and active citizenship across the United Kingdom. Yoga and physical wellbeing are an important part of its activities, providing opportunities to share India’s rich cultural heritage with people of all backgrounds.

Bringing Yoga into Schools

The outreach programme introduced students to yoga as a holistic approach to wellbeing. While yoga is widely recognised around the world for its physical benefits, its roots in India encompass much more than exercise.

Traditional yoga practices encourage physical health, balance, concentration, self-awareness, discipline, relaxation, and mental wellbeing. These principles have particular relevance for young people as they navigate the demands of school, friendships, learning, and everyday life.

Through engaging and age-appropriate sessions, students were encouraged to experience how movement, breathing, focus, and mindfulness can contribute to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

A Dedicated Team

The success of the programme was made possible through the commitment of the instructors and volunteers who supported the initiative.

Special recognition goes to Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy, Ashajyothi, and Radha Susarla, who led the programme with great dedication. They were strongly supported by Poornima Babu, Shobha Sivaramakrishnan, Sagar Mehendale, and Rajiv Ranjan, along with additional volunteer participation.

Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy and Radha Susarla were present at every one of the 40 sessions, demonstrating an exceptional level of commitment to the initiative and to the students and schools involved.

Their consistency helped provide continuity throughout the programme and ensured that the students received a positive and engaging experience.

A Community Partnership

The initiative was made possible through the cooperation of the participating schools, teachers, students, volunteers, and instructors. The warm response from the schools demonstrated the value of bringing practical wellbeing activities into the educational environment.

The programme also provided an opportunity to share an important part of India’s cultural heritage with the wider community. Yoga has its origins in the Indian philosophical tradition and has evolved into a global practice embraced by people of many cultures and backgrounds.

Initiatives such as this demonstrate how India’s ancient traditions can continue to offer meaningful and practical benefits in modern life.

The Joy of Giving Back

For the members of HSS (UK) involved, the programme was not simply about teaching yoga. It was an opportunity to give time, knowledge, energy, and resources back to the community.

The traditional Hindu principle of selfless service encourages individuals to contribute to society using whatever they can offer. In this case, instructors shared their knowledge and time to support the wellbeing of nearly 1,150 young people.

The greatest reward was the joy of contributing to the community and seeing young people experience the benefits of yoga.

The Wakefield Yoga outreach programme is a powerful example of how community service, cultural heritage, education, and wellbeing can come together to create a positive impact—one classroom and one young person at a time.