About Vedha Trust
Bringing the science of yoga and natural healing to every doorstep
Vedha Trust is a service organisation based in The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. We bring yoga, naturopathy and wellness education to the people who are least able to reach them: tribal women and children, students in remote schools, and needy families.
Our mission
To improve the physical and mental well-being of tribal and underserved communities through free yoga, natural therapies, counselling and nutrition, delivered where people live.
Our approach
Every programme is built around three aims: prevention through daily practice, healing through natural therapies, and awareness that helps people look after their own well-being.
Why the Adivasi communities
The tribal communities of The Nilgiris, among them the Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Irula, Paniya and Kattunayakan peoples, have long had little access to preventive health care.
Our founder Sumathi S. started a free yoga training project for tribal women and girls. She calls it YOGA: “Yeomen Outlook for Good Living of Adivasi”. The programme received formal permission from the Government of Tamil Nadu Tribal Welfare Department to train children in tribal schools, and the District Tribal Office has issued teaching orders for the work.
Our impact so far
~20
Tribal villages reached
1,000+
Women trained
3,000+
Girl students trained
Free
Of cost, by design
Our founder
Sumathi S.
Yoga Master · Naturopathy Practitioner · Holistic Therapist
Sumathi S. holds an M.A. in Yoga for Human Excellence and master diplomas in Naturopathy & Yogic Science, Acupuncture and Foot Reflexology. She is a gold medallist at the Asian Yoga Championship in Singapore. The New Indian Express reported her as the first woman from the Badaga community to win an international yoga title.
Stand with the tribal communities of The Nilgiris
Your support helps provide free yoga training, naturopathy care, counselling and daily meals to people who need them most.