Multimillionaire "Yoga Guru" wants to bring yoga to Olympic pedestal

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

To cultivate the competition spirit in American yoga is trying famous teacher from India. Bikram Choudhury, a former yoga champion in his native India who came to America, befriended celebrities, built a global franchise and made millions.
He made a career on Yoga and became Multimillionaire. The future goal is just fantastic ? bring Yoga to the Olympic pedestal.

For more information please read the article:

The future of Yoga is in your hands. Do you really think that Yoga should reach Olympic ?

#2

Thank you for sharing.

#3

This is wrong on so many levels, not the least being that the most unimportant aspect of yoga is how you look practicing it, and the most important, at least arguably, is how it makes you feel, which is impossible for others to “judge.”

#4

[QUOTE=Dave;29680]This is wrong on so many levels, not the least being that the most unimportant aspect of yoga is how you look practicing it, and the most important, at least arguably, is how it makes you feel, which is impossible for others to “judge.”[/QUOTE]

I couldnt agree with this post more…

#5

This is wrong on so many levels, not the least being that the most unimportant aspect of yoga is how you look practicing it, and the most important, at least arguably, is how it makes you feel, which is impossible for others to “judge.”

Very well said, Dave. I’m with Everything Zen. I’m in 100% agreement.

#6

I problem with this is that it’s another event at the olympics that is judged subjectively - like synchronized swimming, paired skating routines, etc. Although it may turn-off most yoga purists, the issue becomes ‘how do you score?’

Imaging that yoga gets in, but golf does not. How is that fair?

#7

I think that would be cool. Yogi’s getting world recognition for practicing would be amazing. Plus, it opens up the door for so many more, by making it more mainstream. I don’t think it would hurt anything. Some people are like yoga shouldn’t be competitive, but anything to have people practice more is worth it. Any outlet, even competitive is beneficial in my eyes. It inspires people and raises awareness.

#8

@Beachyogi
I’d like to hear a bit more about your position on this. Perhaps you could expound on the following?

What would amaze you about asana practitioners getting recognition?

What value do you see in having more people practice asana?

#9

I think yoga would be a great Olympic sport. Especially if we light the contestants on fire while they hold position. Spice it up a little for TV.

#10

I see the Yoga competitions as the purpose to demonstrate and educate the general public about yoga and encourage others to do the same.
But at the same time, Competition makes it appears as a purely physical practice to people who are uneducated about yoga.

The Yoga ?show? element is also an ancient history. In ancient times yoga guru used to organized a demonstration of yoga skills at the Indian fairs, including the demonstration of the most difficult yoga asanas. The aim of such fairs was to attract new students. But if in the India itself Yoga Championships seem to be something natural ? International Yoga championships present Yoga as the physical practice only. In India it goes without saying that asana practice is only the third of 8 steps in yoga practice. On international level it will remain as Yoga Asana Practice only. And only few people will realize that Yoga is necessary not only for the healthy body improvement but for further preparation to the higher levels of yoga- spiritual search and meditation.

On Olympic level Yoga might lose its ancient values.

#11

@ InnerAthlete

I would be amazed about yogi’s getting recognition, because along with recognition comes many other opportunities for these people to became more predominant people in society. That is something that this world definitely needs. I think by practicing yoga, your mind clears and develops a higher understanding of what’s really right and wrong. Having more of these people in place’s of influence, is what would amaze me.

The value of more people practicing asana is that the global consciousness awareness is raised. Healthier, and happier people make this world a better place to live in. I don’t see yogi’s destroying the earth, they have a deeper sense and connection with the earth. All of this is attained and tuned by simply starting to practice yama’s, niyama’s, and asana’s.

@Eve, i think that by practicing asana’s, more and more, your mind will start craving stillness, humbling, and washing away ego no matter what, hence staying within it’s ancient values.

#12

If yoga is all about peace and love, why can’t India get along with Pakistan?

#13

[QUOTE=beachyogi;29750]
I don’t see yogi’s destroying the earth[/QUOTE]

That’s right. Instead you see us divorcing our spouse, having affairs with students, putting destructive substances in our bodies, misleading, performing, profiteering, and hurting students (while claiming to be evolved). But you’re right, we’re not destroying the earth.

#14

disgraceful… i wanted to voice that opinion, but cant even be bothered to detail why… surely those with any knowledge on yoga will know why. sorry for those of you that cant imagine why this is so wrong…:confused:

#15

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;29778]That’s right. Instead you see us divorcing our spouse, having affairs with students, putting destructive substances in our bodies, misleading, performing, profiteering, and hurting students (while claiming to be evolved). But you’re right, we’re not destroying the earth.[/QUOTE]

Are you trying to personally attack me?

You took my statement out of context.

The people doing those thing’s probably aren’t yogi’s. Maybe they are people who went to a yoga college/retreat so to think they are one.

And the yogi’s that do those things, probably don’t do it on a scale as destructive as someone who has never practiced. In yoga we practice physical and mental disciplines to prevent ourselves from doing those sorts of things. Nobody is perfect.

#16

[QUOTE=anula;29780]disgraceful… i wanted to voice that opinion, but cant even be bothered to detail why… surely those with any knowledge on yoga will know why. sorry for those of you that cant imagine why this is so wrong…:confused:[/QUOTE]

please, enlighten me? what is this knowledge on yoga?

@Inner i’m asking because of the amount of sarcasm in your post…

Iyengar yoga focuses on alignment in the body. If people want to judge alignment, poise, grace, some people are better than other’s at it, if they want to compete, let them at it. I know if i was sitting and watching, i would be inspired to practice more by watching these individuals states of being.

I’m sure glad the yogi’s from the east brought yoga to the west.

#17

[QUOTE=Charon;29776]If yoga is all about peace and love, why can’t India get along with Pakistan?[/QUOTE]

Because India’s leader’s never practiced yoga! :lol:

#18

Are you trying to personally attack me?

Not at all. In fact my statements aren’t about you whatsoever. Note I said “we”, referencing myself and my teaching peers. I respect your position and I wanted to expose myself to it for the opportunity of learning, which I have.

#19

@beachyogi

Having been doing a bit of reading about yoga, and noted, famous yogis, it is not to hard to find several - not the majority - but several - who definitely took advantage of their positions for money, sexual conquests, etc. I am not going to name names here, just do a cursory search and you will easily find that just because a human being practices yoga is not a guarantee that they won’t exhibit typical human behavior. Even in Buddhism, what was also NOT originally intended to be a religion, there have been murders due to a split in the Tibetan versions. My point is that there is no human activity immune from abuse.

Hmm, we seem to have digressed a bit from the original topic…

#20

So Dave,

You feel like you need to murder someone Dave? Im your man. I know a guy named Dave and his mom is in jail for murder. Dave does not like me and he and his drugged out weak geek friends think they can scare me. Is that you? You are threatening my family! You know where I live you coward, come and get me - I WELCOME IT!!!