‘Riitesh Mudra’ for Cerebral Palsy
Dr. Ritesh Sinha, a resident of Sector 13, Karnal, Haryana, who is suffering from Cerebral Palsy (CP), has changed the meaning of CP disease by his hard work and determination, even though he has least control over his body movement and involuntary actions. For him CP means a ‘Capable Person’. This is because he has done such remarkable work which can be beneficial for the well-being of differently-abled persons. Dr. Riitesh has worked diligently to develop a hand posture to improve the health of the differently-abled. Stiffness in the hands and feet of persons suffering from Cerebral Palsy can be reduced by the practice of this Hasta Mudra. He calls it ‘Ritesh Mudra’, for which he has been awarded a letter of appreciation from the India Book of Records.
Dr. Riitesh is 47-years-old and lives in Karnal with his mother Dr. Smt. Pushpalata R Sinha and his father Dr. RN Sinha, retired as Principal Scientist from NDRI Karnal. He did a course in Naturopathy from Nature Cure Institute, Nashik, Maharashtra in 2016 to practice as a Naturopathic doctor. He has had a problem of Cerebral Palsy since childhood. Prior to the development of ‘Riitesh Mudra’, during the lockdown he created an Android app called Alternative Therapy for Cerebral Palsy. It was declared a National Record, for which earlier also, his name got registered in India Book of Records in 2020. Before all this, he had established his identity as a prolific writer, innovator, blogger, researcher and doctor by overcoming this physical difficulty.
The hand mudra which he calls ‘Riitesh Mudra’ is a combination of ancient yoga mudra and acupressure. The tip of the thumb and middle finger of the hand are pressed against each other for a few minutes and with regular practice, a person with Cerebral Palsy can get relief. In his book ‘Understanding of Cerebral Palsy’, he has mentioned different hand mudras like Vayu Mudra, Vayana Mudra, Gyan Mudra and Ardi Mudra. ‘Riitesh Mudra’ can be practiced during meditation, which gives a feeling of peace to the mind.
He has been suffering from Cerebral Palsy since childhood, but his parents came to know about this condition only when Riitesh was 11 months old. His brain had no control over his organs. He could neither walk nor move his hands and other body parts on his own. He also had difficulty speaking. Due to this disability, he was refused admission by the school in his childhood. Later he got admission in a school with great difficulty. Riitesh’s mother says that her son studied diligently and fought the disease. First he did B.Sc from Dyal Singh College, Karnal, then PG diploma courses in Computer Application and Information Technology, and finally took a diploma in Naturopathy. Currently he works as a Computer Operator in Karnal Court. He has received the Cavinkare Ability Mastery Award for his achievements.
Riitesh said that to help the differently-abled, he runs a Whatsapp group called Capable Person on WhatsApp, where he guides people. Hundreds of cerebral palsy sufferers from across the country are associated with him in this group. Today he remains a source of inspiration for children suffering from Cerebral Palsy.