Morning Yoga & Farm Walk 

By: Varsha Voruganti and Geetika Kullampalle

Yoga

Learning yoga from Sudheer Uncle had a very different feel than it did the year before, when Sruti Akka led our sessions. I wouldn’t say one was better than the other; they were just different. With Akka, yoga was intense in the best way. I still laugh thinking about how we’d hold each position for what she said was “10 seconds,” but with how slowly she counted, those seconds felt more like minutes. We’d struggle to stay balanced, giggling through the pain until she finally reached ten. It was tough, but rewarding. Sudheer Uncle’s approach was more laid back, but equally valuable. We still practiced challenging poses like the crow and frog poses, but our sessions also included conversations with Uncle, and we focused more on stretching and movement that felt natural to our bodies. It felt like a communal experience, one where we could learn, laugh, and feel connected.

If mornings at Haritachala taught me anything, it’s that being in nature can completely transform your routine and boost your productivity. Every day began with a warm cup of tea, followed by either yoga with Sudheer Uncle or a peaceful farm walk with Sruti Akka, where we explored the beautiful and unique environment of HC.

As Varsha put it, “I always looked forward to the yoga lessons with Sudheer Uncle. It was such a bonding experience for all the Geckos because we got to do a fun activity together. Not only did we bond, but we learned new things about yoga that we can use in our daily lives anywhere. We always started off with Surya Namaskaram, which I was personally very interested in learning and perfecting at camp. With all the stretches Uncle taught us, I found them very useful to this day—especially when I go to the gym.”

Farm walk

Personally, I’ve always loved the outdoors. Ever since I was a kid, I’d sneak into the woods behind my house, hoping to spot deer, bunnies, or just to collect cool looking rocks. Even though Amma and Nana would tell me not to go, I couldn’t help myself. Being outside made me feel at home. So it’s no surprise that the farm walks were some of my favorite moments at camp. I remember the time we picked mangoes and Sruti Akka showed us this strange looking flower called the “semi-carnivorous stinging wild passion fruit.” but trust me when I say it tasted nothing like an ordinary passion fruit. It was more like passionfruit’s distant cousin who never got invited to family gatherings. 

On another walk, one of the workers cracked open an ice apple for us to taste. It was refreshing and sweet, completely unlike anything I’d tried before. One of my favorite traditions became harvesting dragon fruits and bringing them to the aunties in the kitchen, who would scoop them out for dessert. That day, we ended up eating dragon fruit with gulab jamun… an unexpectedly perfect combo.

But these walks weren’t just about the fruit. They were about connection: to nature, to each other, and to a bigger vision. Akka would often share her dreams of turning the farm into a place where anyone could come and pick their own food. She taught us about permaculture and how important birds, insects, and the natural ecosystem are to sustaining the farm. Every walk was a lesson in harmony; with the land, with each other, and with ourselves.