By Fr Sunil Pinto SDB for BIS Mumbai

Mumbai | August 2026: What begins each morning as a simple Yoga practice at Shelter Don Bosco is slowly opening new opportunities for its young residents. Earlier this month, three students, Ritik Chauhan, Shankar Jadhav and Dharmendra Mali, represented Shelter Don Bosco at the Maharashtra State Yoga Sports Championship in Pune.

The competition brought together participants from across Maharashtra and gave the three boys an opportunity to put their practice and preparation to the test. Among them, Shankar Jadhav secured an impressive third place in the 45th State Yoga Competition. His achievement is a proud moment for everyone at Shelter Don Bosco.

Shankar’s success has also brought him another exciting opportunity. Following his performance at the state competition, he has been selected to represent Maharashtra at the National Yoga Competition 2026. It is a significant milestone in his journey, and the Shelter community wishes him the very best as he prepares to compete at the national level.

Ritik Chauhan and Dharmendra Mali also deserve special appreciation for earning the opportunity to compete at the state level. Their participation is a reflection of the time, effort and commitment they have put into their Yoga practice. For the two boys, the experience of competing alongside participants from across the state will itself be an important part of their learning and growth.

At Shelter Don Bosco, Yoga is part of the students’ daily routine. The boys begin their day with Yoga, gradually learning that the practice is about much more than physical postures. It calls for patience, concentration, discipline and consistency. Over time, this regular practice is beginning to show results.

The success in Pune is not just about a third-place finish or a place at the upcoming national competition, but it is also about the journey that brought the students there. It is about turning up each morning, practicing, improving and gradually believing that they can take their abilities beyond the walls of Shelter.

The experience of the 3 students will hopefully encourage more boys at Shelter to take Yoga seriously, not only as a sport, but as a healthy habit and a way of life that can contribute to their physical, mental and personal well-being.