Mangaluru: PK Vikas,21, a third-year naturopathy and yogic sciences student at Alva’s College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Moodubidire, has received recognition from the Book of World Records for holding sarvangasana (shoulder stand) continuously for 32 minutes. He achieved this at Alva’s College last month.Vikas, from Barya village in Belthangady taluk, began practising yoga in class 5, and has continued for 11 years. His first trainer, Vijesh, encouraged him to take up yoga and taught him its basics.He said he gradually built his endurance for the record attempt, increasing his practice from five to 10 minutes initially, to 25-28 minutes before the final attempt.Vikas has competed in yoga at the district, state, university and national levels. He won gold at a national-level competition in Hyderabad, and secured silver three times in team events at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) competitions. At a national-level competition at AIIMS, New Delhi, he finished among the top 10.He has also participated in blindfolded yoga and instrumental yoga, which involves performing asanas and hand balances using props such as chairs. He secured second place in a national-level blindfolded yoga competition, and has served as a judge at district-level, taluk-level and state-level competitions.For the prolonged sarvangasana attempt, Vikas focused on strengthening his arms, core, neck and shoulders. His regular evening practice, from around 6pm to 7pm, included warm-ups before the asana. He said prolonged practice initially caused discomfort such as neck and shoulder pain and headaches.Vikas now plans another record attempt in urdhva padma sarvangasana, which he has practised for around 20 minutes. The attempt is planned for the end of this month.He also wants to conduct awareness programmes and free camps to encourage youngsters to take up yoga. His long-term ambitions include attempts at the Golden Book of World Records and Guinness World Records. He plans to pursue higher studies, including an MD, after completing his naturopathy degree.
