When quizzed about the judging criteria at the National Yoga Asana Championship held inNew York in March 2012, Rajashree Choudhury from USA Yoga said that the focus was on postures. She added competitions could be a way to attract people to yoga and its athletic aspect, as many people get put off by its spiritual connotations.
Stretching it too far?
Shameem Akthar, who has been teaching yoga for 12 years, does not think so. She says, "Personally, I will not take part in a yoga competition. But I don't believe competitions interfere with or diminish yoga's spiritual glow. On the other hand, the various aspects of it may be subjected to greater scrutiny now. In any case, a lot of people who teach yoga do not bring any spiritual value to it. It is a personal experience, the spiritual part of it. That will always be a private place."Holistic health guru Mickey Mehta adds, "This move has its pros and cons. While it will give yoga the recognition it deserves, it could also be reduced to a circus act. The focus won't be on spiritual growth anymore. So far, yoga was protected from the push culture. However, making it a competitive sport may change that. People may end up overdoing it, and yoga, which was never punishing, may end up losing its calm and soothing effect and its spiritual vibe."
Other 'unconventional' Olympic aspirants
Yoga isn't the first unconventional sport seeking Olympic status. Recently, pole dancing enthusiasts and sheep-shearing competitors also made a push to be included in the Games.
Source:TNN
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