Doctors Warned Him After Two Heart Attacks. Now At 80, He Runs 3km Daily And Plays Kabbadi

Last Updated:June 20, 2025, 20:53 IST

Shiv Bhagwan Bhakar, 80, from Churu (Rajasthan), no longer suffers from heart ailments, coughs, or colds. But the most surprising change? His eyesight

Shiv Bhagwan Bhakar wakes up every day at 4 AM and runs 3 kilometres. (News18 Hindi)

In the dusty fields of Rajasthan’s Churu district, where Kabaddi is a sport of pride and power, an 80-year-old man routinely stuns spectators – not with nostalgia, but with sheer athleticism. Shiv Bhagwan Bhakar, a resident of Pichkarai Tal village in Sardarshahar tehsil, is rewriting the story of ageing, one yoga posture at a time.

Once a man battling disease and dependent on medicines, Bhakar today sprints ahead of young men in local races and locks horns with them in Kabaddi matches, often emerging victorious. His secret weapon? Yoga.

The turning point came in 2001, when Bhakar suffered two heart attacks. His life became a carousel of medications and restrictions. Doctors warned him: limit milk, avoid ghee, and strictly monitor his diet. Even 100 grams of dairy could be fatal, they said. Yet, despite the medication, he experienced constant discomfort – especially a burning sensation across his body.

Disheartened but not defeated, Bhakar began looking for alternatives. Inspired by televised yoga sessions of Baba Ramdev, he took a leap of faith and started practicing basic yoga at home. But the real transformation began in 2007, when he attended a Patanjali Yoga Camp.

Post-camp, Bhakar’s life acquired a monk-like discipline. He rises every day at 4 AM, runs 3 kilometres, and dedicates the next three hours to rigorous yoga. Hundreds of sit-ups are part of his daily regimen. The results? Nothing short of miraculous.

Today, not only has he eliminated medicines from his routine, but he also consumes 2 to 3 kgs of milk and large quantities of ghee – without adverse effects. Once forbidden, these foods are now part of his strength.

Bhakar no longer suffers from heart ailments, coughs, or colds. But the most surprising change? His eyesight. He had been wearing prescription glasses (number 3) since the age of 38. Now, he doesn’t need them. Problems like burning and watering eyes have also disappeared.

Today, Shiv Bhagwan is not just a practitioner of yoga, but also a teacher and evangelist. He teaches yoga to villagers and urges people of all ages to dedicate at least one hour a day to it. He believes yoga is the key to eliminating lifestyle diseases, regardless of age or background. “Yoga makes you ageless," he said with a smile, the kind that belongs more to a sprightly youth than an octogenarian.

Dr Satyanarayan Jhajhadia, who has observed Bhakar closely, confirms that he regularly competes in local athletic events, including sprints – often outrunning much younger competitors. Apart from sports, Bhakar remains active in agriculture and tends lovingly to his cows, maintaining a lifestyle many half his age would struggle to match.

In an era where modern medicine often overshadows traditional wellness practices, Shiv Bhagwan Bhakar stands as a living testament to yoga’s transformative power. While sages and saints of the past left behind scriptures, Bhakar offers a living, breathing example of what disciplined yogic living can achieve.

Location :

Churu, India, India

First Published:

News india Doctors Warned Him After Two Heart Attacks. Now At 80, He Runs 3km Daily And Plays Kabbadi