yoga competitions

Shiri · 11-21-2005, 10:19 AM

I was wondering what you all thought of the recent yoga competitions.
Is this compatible with the principles of yoga? Have you ever been to one? What was it like, what did you think?

InnerAthlete · 12-17-2005, 07:16 PM

This is a very loaded question. I am certain there's legitimate rationale on both sides of the coin.

I personally do not find the terms competition and yoga to fit nicely in a sentence together. But I also don't find Dubya and intelligence to go well in sentences either so call me odd.

While I do not consider myself a Vedic scholar my sense is that "performing" a bunch of asana, having them judged, and there being better poses and awards, well none of that seems Patanjelic. It makes the practice very extrinsic and to me most of what yoga truly is falls on the inner journey. The body merely a conduit.

So I'm not down with yoga competitions. To me it seems like yet another way western culture perverts.

11-21-2005, 10:19 AM	#1
Shiri Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1	I was wondering what you all thought of the recent yoga competitions. Is this compatible with the principles of yoga? Have you ever been to one? What was it like, what did you think?

12-17-2005, 07:16 PM	#2
InnerAthlete Mostly Good Egg Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Certified Purna Yoga Teacher - Seattle, WA Posts: 1,035	This is a very loaded question. I am certain there's legitimate rationale on both sides of the coin. I personally do not find the terms competition and yoga to fit nicely in a sentence together. But I also don't find Dubya and intelligence to go well in sentences either so call me odd. While I do not consider myself a Vedic scholar my sense is that "performing" a bunch of asana, having them judged, and there being better poses and awards, well none of that seems Patanjelic. It makes the practice very extrinsic and to me most of what yoga truly is falls on the inner journey. The body merely a conduit. So I'm not down with yoga competitions. To me it seems like yet another way western culture perverts.