A judged competitive form of yoga in which athletes hold a sequence of postures and transitions evaluated on technique and grace.
Origin and rules
Yoga asana competitions emerged in 19th-century India as ways to demonstrate proficiency in traditional postures. The format was promoted internationally from the 1980s, and the International Yoga Sports Federation now sanctions World Championships.
How it plays
Competitors perform a routine of compulsory and optional postures in three minutes on a small stage. Judges score on alignment, depth, balance, breath control, and artistic expression. Events include individual, pair, and rhythmic team yoga.
Competition
The IYSF World Yoga Sports Championship is the elite event, with national federations in India, the United States, Brazil, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Yoga sport is one of several martial-art-style disciplines campaigning for Olympic inclusion but is not on the programme.
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Yoga Sport starts with Y and ends with T. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Yoga Sport":