Samridhi Kalia is ecstatic as she entered the Golden Book of World Records for performing 40 advanced yoga postures in one minute inside a small box.
The 11-year-old’s yoga session was live-streamed on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on Sunday. The Grade 7 student of Ambassador School in Dubai feels it’s her sheer hard work and perseverance that has paid off. “I feel one should never give up. I practise at least two hours every day. I look up to my maternal grandmother who lives in India. She is over 70 but still gets up at 4.30am every day to go to for her yoga classes. It feels nice when everybody is proud of you. It encourages you to be your best.”
Samridhi is not only adept in various yoga asanas but has also won accolades in artistic and rhythmic yoga. She also bagged the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Award in January for her outstanding achievements in the field of yoga.
“I always try to challenge myself further every time. The first record I created in January this year was for doing the maximum number of advanced yoga postures, which were about 33 postures in a span of one minute, not in a restricted area.”
“I first got inspired by watching other children, who were excelling in their particular fields and creating similar records, so I thought why not do the same?”
Her father Sidharth Kalia avers his daughter was inducted into yoga when she was only six.
“She first started doing yoga in school and we noticed she had a knack for it. Her school was participating in a yoga competition in Malaysia and she insisted on going there. That was her first overseas trip alone with her school, about five years ago, where she won a few medals. We are extremely proud of her. She has secured winning spots at most events she participated and has travelled to across the globe for competitions. I feel parents should identify their children’s talents and encourage them to endeavor in their areas of interest so that they can achieve greater heights in their pursuits.”
