While the 2010 Winter Olympics are getting underway in Vancouver, the 2010 U.S. Yoga Asana Championship is also taking place this weekend in sunny Los Angeles. Though many balk at the idea of competitive yoga (including a campaign to include yoga in future Olympic Games), it has a long established history in India. Rajashree Choudhury, the founder and president of USA Yoga (and wife of Bikram) was kind enough to offer the following commentary on the value of yoga competitions:

The purpose of these competitions is to demonstrate and educate the general public as to the life renewing properties of yoga. When people see the healthy, strong, flexible bodies, the calmness of mind and the beauty of spirit in the competitors, they come to understand the magnificence of what yoga is and what yoga can do for them. Search within yourself to be the best person you can be, and encourage others to do the same.

An admirable sentiment, though one could certainly argue that, in fact, yoga competitions do just the opposite by promoting a level of practice that is not realistic for most people. And I’m still not clear on why it needs to be a competition. Drop your thoughts in the comment box.

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