The Isha Foundation utilizes sports for social inclusion to promote well-being and community transformation, addressing issues like gender equity and caste barriers. Their initiatives have successfully trained numerous coaches, established sports teams, and organized tournaments, significantly enhancing participation and skills among rural communities. Since 2003, the program has reached over 2,463 villages and engaged 150,000 participants in various sports activities, showcasing a positive impact on health and social cohesion.

1. Sports for Social
Inclusion

2. Isha Foundation
•an international, non-religious, not-for-profit public service
organization,
•dedicated to nurture and help every being attain its ultimate potential
through individual transformation by addressing all aspects of human
wellbeing .
•Isha activities are designed to create an inclusive culture that is the
basis of global peace and development.
•This integral approach has gained worldwide recognition –reflected in
its Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

3. Sports and Community games
Vision:
We envision a society where people full of joy and enthusiasm become
actors in the transformation of their communities.
Mission:
We teach sports and community games to promote social bonding
beyond caste, creed, religion or economic status and to encourage
gender equity and leadership attitude within the community
Goals:
 To establish a network of local motivated trained sport coaches
 To introduce health awareness programs and yoga classes including
games
 To form male and female sport teams and provide them weekly
coaching session
 To support the happenings of tournaments from village to state level
organized by community leaders

4. Rural Community Challenges
• Exclusion of women due to cultural inhibition
• Caste barriers within the community
• No culture of sport practice
• Loss of traditional practice of community games
• Addiction of women and children to TV, and addiction
of men to card games, alcohol and smoking

5. Methodology
Meeting the
village influential
people
Introducing
Games through
yoga Programs
Organizing sports
teams
Coaching the
teams
Inter-Panchayat
& district level
Tournaments
Rural Olympics/
Gramotsav

6. Strategy
Isha Rural Yoga programs (Inner Engineering Program)
• rejuvenate the individual and foster trust
• raise awareness of a better way of living
• Introduction to game practices
Sport Coach – in charge for
• Weekly coaching of sport practice
• Initiate organization of inter village tournaments
Volunteer team Leader – in charge for
• Continuity of games
• Play-ground maintenance and sport equipments

7. Impacts
Individual Level
• Improvement in conflict resolution & problem solving
skills
• Development of leadership skills and attitude
Community Level
• Increasing receptivity for development programs

8. Improvement of health and reduction of addictions
Mr.Magudesh Aged:40
Thottipalayam

9. He began drinking alcohol at the age of 16 to
forget his burdens. He would consume alcohol
and smoke a pack of cigarettes almost every day
as the only way to relax the mind. But he knew it
was not good for his health. He is an agricultural
laborer. All his earnings were spent on alcohol,
leaving wife and family with almost nothing.
AYUSH-Isha’s Fitness and Yoga team trained
Vijayakumar in yoga and volleyball. With regular
visits and counseling on de-addiction by the
project team, Vijayakumar was encouraged to
practice yoga and play volleyball.
Mr.Vijayakumar, 26 yr old,
Vilaram village,
Devanur Panchayat
His wife Thayamma, aged 23, now feels happy that her husband doesn’t drink,
and goes to work regularly. She thanked the AYUSH-Isha team for
transfarming the life of her husband and the family now enjoys their
reputation in the village.
Improvement in family and social
relationships

10. Enhanced self-esteem and empowerment
especially among women
Mrs.Kala Aged: 28, Athani,
Gobichettipalayam

11. School Sharing
Due to the hilly terrain, no sports and games activities were conducted in the school.
When Isha organized games like Kho-Kho and Kabadi. The children developed great
enthusiasm in games. Interschool competition were also organized which witness the
high spirit of children. The AEO of the area exclaimed that he never expected that
their children could portray such enthusiasm and skills in sports and games.
Development of individual skills

12. Fostering united community spirit beyond
gender, caste, social and economic differences
Mr.Senthilkumar
Aged:39
Athani, Gobichettipalayam

13. Real Inclusion

16. Achievements since 2003
 Villages reached 2,463
 Rural Isha Yoga program participants 150,000
 Volley ball & throw ball teams 852
 Number of players ~ 10,200
 District level tournaments 27
 State level rural sports festival (Gramotsav) 4
 Gramotsav participants ~ 1,200,000

17. “Wanting to win, at the same time, willing to lose if need be;
handling your victory gracefully,
handling your failure gracefully
are things that sport inculcates into a human being.”
-Sadhguru