Abstract

Yoga sports, commonly known as ‘Competitive Yoga’, with āsana at the core, is a distinctive blend of the traditional practice of yogāsana and modern sports. Yogāsana has evolved from one of the tools to achieve self-realisation to a tool for health management. This development has introduced Yogāsana championships into the sporting arenas. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with competitive yoga, highlighting its various facets. The paper examines opportunities such as improvements in physical and mental health, enhanced awareness and participation, and the prospect of developing ‘Yoga Sports’ into a profitable brand. Susceptibility to injuries, losing the true essence of yogic philosophy, the participation of gymnasts and contortionists, and the absence of measuring both practical and theoretical knowledge of the athletes are some of the challenges that require careful consideration. Competitive yoga can blend traditional practice into the mainstream sports paradigm. To make it a successful and accessible sport, training athletes and coaches in injury prevention and rehabilitation is crucial. Utilizing Artificial Intelligence algorithms for injury prediction and integrating a Yoga sports-based curriculum into academics can enhance the role of Yoga in sports while maintaining its core principles.

Keywords: Challenges; Competitive Yoga; Opportunities; Yoga sports

Introduction

Yoga’s popularity has increased significantly in the past few years due to its health and wellness benefits. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yogic interventions in sports. Āsana, prāṇāyāma, meditation, and relaxation practices are essential for athletes to improve their performance, physical conditioning, mental focus and aid in the recovery process. Recently, āsana - one of the most popular limbs of Yoga has been treated as a sport. Looking at āsana from a competitive sport’s perspective brings about a lot of underlying questions to the surface. Is it justified to include Yogāsana in sports? What are the associated opportunities and challenges? Will it remain true to its essence? Does the philosophy underlying Yoga propagate or encourage the element of competition? Will the recognition of āsana as a sport bring more people to Yoga? Will the spiritual element, the nectar of all yogic practices, be compromised or strengthened when a limb of Yoga becomes a sport? Could Yoga as a sport increase the risk of injuries? These unanswered questions require a careful inquiry before advocating or refuting the idea of Yogāsana’s journey into a sports arena. Due to the lack of research specifically focused on Competitive Yoga, relevant information was gathered from existing studies on yoga, reports on yoga sports, press releases, the Yoga Sports Federation websites, and various newspaper articles. This information was used to evaluate the prospects and challenges associated with this discipline.

‘Yoga’ and ‘Sports’

Yoga is an ancient practice that harmonises the body, breath, and mind, aiming to achieve spiritual growth. The philosophy of Yoga is deeply rooted in the Upaniṣad-s, Pātañjala yoga and various Haṭha yogic texts. The 21^st century has seen a shift in the goals of Yoga from being a ‘tool for self-realisation’ to a ‘tool for health management’. On the other hand, a sport is a game, competition, or activity in which individuals or teams compete against each other, requiring skill and physical effort [1].

The Evolution of Yoga into Sports

Press Information Bureau, Government of India officially published the news about the recognition of Yoga as a Competitive Sport in a joint press conference by the Ministry of AYUSH and Youth Affairs & Sports held in New Delhi on December 17, 2020 [2]. This recognition emphasises the value of Yoga in promoting health and wellness within a sporting context. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Yogasana Bharat has worked tirelessly to bring Yogāsana to the Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games [3]. Soon, yogāsana will be included as a demonstration sport in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and as a competitive sport in the 2030 Asian Games in Doha [4].

Similarity and differences between Yoga and Sports

It is important to note that Yoga and sports have fundamentally different core philosophies. While Yoga does not encourage competition, Yoga sports focus on competition centred around āsana. Traditionally, the word ‘āsana’ refers to a steady and comfortable seat for meditation. However, the term is now commonly used to refer to any physical posture in various styles of Yoga. The common thread between sports and āsana is that both focus on improving agility and strength to develop overall physical fitness. The International Yoga Sports Federation highlights that sports and Yoga focus on ‘fair play’. The requirement of ‘sportsman spirit’ in sports and ‘santoṣa’ in Yoga are the building blocks of the respective disciplines. Yoga deeply emphasises ethical conduct, whereas sports, too, believe in adherence to rules and regulations [5].

The National Yoga Federation of India supports the idea of yogāsana as a sport, promoting an integrative approach to fitness, competition, well-being, and growth. It aims to develop yogāsana as a sports brand where athletes from 600 districts across age, religion, and gender can compete [6]. As Yoga has evolved into a competitive sport, it demands careful consideration of the opportunities and challenges that come its way.

Opportunities in Competitive Yoga

Considering the prospects of Yoga as a sport, National and international Yogāsana championships can benefit practitioners by considering the advantages and limitations of both disciplines [7]. The combined benefits of yoga and sports can help individuals lead a disciplined lifestyle, develop a healthy body, and cultivate a balanced mind. Participating in yoga competitions with the attitude of ‘santoṣa’ and ‘niṣakāma karma’ can help participants excel not only in yogic careers but also on a personal level. The attitude of niṣkāma karma can help participants enjoy the journey rather than focusing on victory or defeat. ‘Santoṣa’ will be a valuable tool for maintaining equanimity and concentration on the path. Athletes from different countries and races can come together on a common platform collectively to compete against each other with ‘samatva bhāva’ and the sportsman spirit [8].

It is well established that Yoga’s popularity has increased tremendously during the pandemic. Including Yoga in sports will help bring more people to this ancient practice. According to the Union Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH, the integration of novel methods and advances in technology into yoga sports will help yoga athletes and officials pursue successful and satisfying careers in the sector. The establishment of Yogāsana Leagues aims to provide yoga athletes, experts, and professionals with a career and position in society, thereby producing Sports Stars among Yogāsana athletes and providing them with job opportunities [2]. Yoga sports have creative styles of yoga performances, and many coaches will get job opportunities and recognition. Traditional yogāsana, artistic yogāsana, rhythmic yogāsana, and flow yogāsana in individual, paired or group formats will help to blend and innovate traditional Yoga with contemporary appeal harmoniously. According to NYSF, Yogāsana is forecasted to build a multi-crore brand value in the next five years. Selling intellectual and competition telecast rights would help generate more revenue and make it profitable. Yogāsana League matches will promote this brand and foster greater engagement. Currently, yogāsana has found its way into the Asian games. However, its chances of securing a place in the 2036 Olympics will brighten the opportunity for expanding awareness of Yoga and its holistic benefits [9].

Challenges of Competitive Yoga

At first glance, “Competitive Yoga” may appear paradoxical [7]. The concept challenges the fundamental principles of Yoga that emphasise balance, inner peace, and mindfulness. No standardised tools exist to access an athlete’s “Yogic quotient”. The absence of measuring the theoretical and practical knowledge of Yoga of these athletes jeopardises the true essence of Yoga. In such competitions, the āsana aspect of Yoga takes centre stage, overshadowing the other limbs. The winners of such competitions might not necessarily be Yoga practitioners. A sole focus on āsana performance will attract more gymnasts, acrobats, dancers, and contortionists to participate in these competitions. The pressure to match the flexibility of gymnasts or winners may further foster cutthroat competition and lead athletes to injuries. Āsana-s resembling gymnastics or acrobatics might become intimidating for the spectators.

It is worthwhile to note that researchers have emphasised that Yogic practices can yield significant benefits if performed correctly; however, improper execution can lead to adverse effects and injuries [10,11] Yogāsana-related injuries are disturbances, discomfort and damage to any body system while practising Yoga, which are mostly reversible [12]. The musculoskeletal system is the most frequently affected among all systems. Participation in any form of ‘sports’ comes with the risk of injuries. Sports-related injuries are a serious concern among athletes. Hypermobility of some athletes may further damage muscles and connective tissue [13]. An athlete’s goal of becoming a stronger version of themselves drives them to push beyond limits, which can result in physical and psychological injuries. In Competitive Yoga, as in gymnastics, injuries often occur due to overuse of the body and a lack of proper rest and recovery. Holding a pose for a specified time during a performance requires proper training and a balanced diet.

Failing to meet any of these criteria can lead to injury. Overzealous athletes often overlook the time required for tissue adaptation before the next training session, which can lead to tissue damage, pain, and dysfunction [14]. Assisted physical adjustment by the coach to go deeper into the pose to meet the expectation of competition may lead an athlete in a vulnerable condition. Physical adjustments made by teachers may not always be beneficial; indeed, they can become harmful if performed incorrectly [15]. The recovery period is generally lengthy to help the body cope with the impact of injuries. Improper rehabilitation after an injury can further exacerbate the problem. Sports injuries sometimes lead to the loss of a career due to inactivity following an injury [16]. In contrast to other sports, Yoga remains relatively less popular. Falling prey to injury will ruin a person’s career as an athlete and a yoga teacher. Most injuries are avoidable if an athlete recognizes the warning signs given by the body’s internal mechanisms. Injuries are a serious concern for yoga athletes and the entire yoga sports fraternity. Concrete steps need to be taken to address the hazards associated with these injuries and establish Yoga as a recognized sport. Hence, sound knowledge of Injury Prevention and Sports rehabilitation is the need of the hour.

Conclusion

Yoga as a sport is here to stay. Hence, making it accessible and safe is essential. To ensure athlete safety and reduce injuries, prioritizing their protection is crucial. Coaches and athletes need training in both injury prevention and management techniques. It is essential to note that accurate injury prediction is crucial for effective injury prevention. Hence, Coaches can work hand in hand with physiotherapists to perform pre-screening assessments to identify red flags and susceptibility to injury. Employing AI algorithms can predict faulty movements and biomechanical patterns, potentially anticipating injury occurrences [17]. Video-based assessments, movement sensors, and wearable devices can help detect anomalies and provide real-time corrective feedback to coaches and players. The scope for introducing a ‘Yoga sports’ curriculum in academics will serve the purpose of educating athletes with scientific knowledge of these two disciplines along with the philosophical essence of Yoga.

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