Senior citizens in this self-sufficient community have innumerable advantages, and one of them is incorporating yoga in their lifestyle.

Brindavan Senior Citizens Foundation has created homes where enterprising residents bring long years of life’s experience to fruition.

June 21 is International Yoga Day, and what can be better than introducing a remarkable yoga teacher who has started yoga classes for a handful of enthusiastic co-residents.

Sridharan Ganapathy is a self-assured yoga teacher who says breathing right to begin with is the first approach to yoga.

Assisted by his wife, Suguna, Ganapathy holds yoga classes for about 10 residents on the terrace of their apartment buildings for about 45 minutes every day in addition to pranayama practice.

“We recently started classes and they are held on the terrace so that students have enough space to observe the ‘safe distance’ norms under today’s circumstances,” Suguna said.

“Many senior citizens think that yoga is tough to do at an older age. But there are simple yet effective exercises that can benefit them a lot,” she said, adding, but daily practice at their homes is a must.”

The yoga couple also hold therapy, which is a one to one session for residents who are counselled about the illness they may have, and the approach that can be taken to alleviate it through yoga and pranayama.

Faith in anything we do is important, Ganapathy says. “It’s important to believe in yourself and let common sense guide you in taking decisions.”

Any exercise regimen needs discipline, and are the senior residents ready to learn simple, basic yoga and alleviate their health issues, rather than depending completely on medicines?

Some of the residents vouched for the benefits of yoga practice, and how it had changed their lives.

Trained at the renowned Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, Ganapathy and Suguna say no one can be cajoled into learning or practising yoga. “It is a realisation about the need to do something profound to stay healthy.”

Perhaps, it is the classic case of: When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

Brindavan Arcade is the latest addition to Brindavan Senior Citizens Foundation’s projects that have been a breath of fresh air in the lives of the elderly and altered the retirement home landscape of Coimbatore.

Brindavan Arcade is located on a one-acre property amidst a picturesque and serene environment in Coimbatore’s Vadavalli neighbourhood. Rising adjacent to its sister properties – Brindavan Hillview, Brindavan Palmgrove and Brindavan Paradise – the project is based on an ownership model.

Run by brothers duo, R Madhavan and R Parthasarathy, the latest project promises a “resort-style” living that combines traditional practices.

“It’s a broader, bigger and a total package,” said Brindavan Senior Citizens Foundation President Madhavan.

It’s a shift from our leasing model as ownership gives a sense of belonging to the senior citizens,” he said.

Featuring 76 apartments of one-, 1.5-, two- and three-bedroom options, the project will be ready for handover in mid-2021.

“This is our fourth project, and we attribute the successful continuity to the trust we earned from our patrons,” said the Foundation’s vice-president, Parthasarathy.

The Arcade matches its sister properties in quality, facilities and infrastructure.

“Built with anti-skid tiles in bathing areas, intercom facilities and wide doors to facilitate wheelchair movement, and equipped with CCTV cameras, the project features reasonably-priced, full course meals, daily doctor visits, a resident nurse, ambulance service, and most importantly, tie-ups with leading hospitals in the city,” said Parthasarathy.

About 450 senior citizens live in the 300-plus homes in the projects built in a period of seven years. “Our reputation spread by word of mouth and we have never depended on advertisement to expand our footprint,” he added.