Just wanted to get some feedback on what you all think about Choudhury Bikram pushing for Olympic yoga in 2012???
Since when is yoga a competitive sport? It seems to me that is the very antithesis of yoga.
I agree and with out judgement I personally think it is a business venture more than anything and wonder if they will have a meditation or chanting part of the competition.
I have discussed this with several of my fellow yogis and some of them completely disagree and others have made comments such as "well it will give India a chance to be in the Olympic"s or “whatever brings more people to the mat is a good thing and its up to us to lift the spirit”. Regardless, I feel it definitely defies the true definition of yoga and I personally think that it will be more of a contortionist or acrobatic competition that they are going to call yoga. very strange huh…
Yes it doesn’t make sense to me either. I’ve heard of yoga competitions before, judged on form etc. However to me its about one self’s improvements and even that would be debatable.
no thankyou
I couldn’t agree more. Yoga is not about doing anything better than anyone else (yourself included) it’s about the doing. That would be a sad day.
This is the first I heard about it. What a horrid idea. I don’t really like the Birkam way. Yoga winners? Shudder.
oh it's an annual event that has been going on for quite some time now. check out videos on youtube as well as the following for more info.
http://www.harmonic1to1wealth.com/2009/02/prepare-way.html
the gentleman in question is very enterprising - the competition is actually broadcast live over the internet with his mrs acting as the master of ceremony.
guess he hopes to gain more media attention by taking it to the olympic level. what was said previously is true - it is more acrobatic than yoga. 
I believe that in our souls, rather than at the level of our Ego, we all know that Yoga is not sport, it is not exercise, it is not competitive AND that putting such a foot of yoga forward not only dilutes but so radically diminishes the vastness of Yoga that it creates a resonance of disharmony.
There are many things which go on in “yoga” today - aside from a push to gain entry to the Olympics, that foster this dilution. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. So I simply continue to teach Yoga based on its vastness, based on integrity, based on moving students deeply to their purpose (which so surely must transcend the external suit we all wear) and hope that is enough. What others do others will bear.
Pragmatically, I don’t see a rationale for Yoga as an Olympic sport. Merely that something has been around for a long time, done for a long time, that in and of itself doesn’t validate the action. I’ll cite violence and war as examples of long standing behaviors that a spiritually evolving society must “do without”.
So we have to choose. More of the same nonsense puffing air into the ego of students, supporting their external search for “things” to make them happy, encouraging performance, satisfying only their craving to be admired, liked, popular, wealthy, thin, attractive…or the deeper internal exploration toward the light that is within all of us.
Nicely said Inner Athlete, you’re good!
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;27958]I believe that in our souls, rather than at the level of our Ego, we all know that Yoga is not sport, it is not exercise, it is not competitive AND that putting such a foot of yoga forward not only dilutes but so radically diminishes the vastness of Yoga that it creates a resonance of disharmony.[/QUOTE]
IA - you will be singing that song forever. The fact is that in this MacDonald’s society some folk just want to pick items on the menu that appeals to them and fills them up quickly, without having to spend too much money/effort/thought/soul.
In fact, I will bet that in the pavilion just down from the yoga competition is the burger eating competition. Now, what will get me to sit up and notice is if the same person wins both competitions. That will take talent.
I would probably be in the running for the burger eating comp, but my yoga…
hello,
I’m not saying yes or no, but just think how many people might be inspired to do yoga by this? How educational it might be? It could be the start of a revolution.
What about vamandhouti or vasti events? Now that’s what i want to see.
siva
With so many unique forms of yoga, it seems impossible. I actually went to high school with Bel Carpenter (“Bikram Silver Medalist”) and have seen his competition photos. He is an amazing athlete and trains for this competition, so in regards to the dedication to his “sport” it is on par with any olympic training. He also seems to understand and appreciate the depths of yoga.
But isn’t yoga already in the Olympics? In every athlete out there? If you don’t agree, read “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” Dan Milman. On another note, I meet a gymnast turned yogi who trained with Dan Milman - he was intrigued about the book (not aware of it) and proceeded to give a funny look - interpretation to be drawn unknown. :rolleyes:
Having trained (200hr) at a Power Yoga studio, and suffered the consequences, I truly believe that yoga lays it’s path to enlightenment in whatever form it manifests. I don’t think it would be good or bad, just change. 
[QUOTE=concoulor3;27998] I don’t think it would be good or bad, just change. [/QUOTE]
The one thing about this universe of ours is that it is always in a state of change. From the big bang on - it’s expanding and growing, or collapsing and dying. As inert as I may appear in padmasana, I am hurtling at great speeds through the universe. Nothing remains the same, not even yoga.
History tells us that humans will take what is in front of them, work it, and make it do stuff not originally intended. They will strip down processes and rebuild anew. I’ve watched my own kids behave this way instinctively.
In 50 years we will have a brand new shiny yoga with 10 arms instead of 8, and new postures designed to further enlighten us. It happens.
This is true Flex Penguin. And change is good.
I like the idea that evolutionary consciousness is spreading into the mainstreams.
It is what it is, and its our own human emotions and reactions that make it in to whatever we perceive it to be. The good, the bad, and the ugly, we manifest reality. So we can choose to let it be and watch it all unfold with delight. Its our choice.
I agree that Yoga should not be an Olympic sport, but I don’t agree that Yoga is completely non-competitive. The competition occurs at the level of instruction in yoga. Most yoga in the United States is taught in private studios, and if you believe that there is no competition among studios and teachers, well, I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself.
I also believe that there is a place for competition in Yoga. Lot’s of people want to be Yoga instructors. How are consumers supposed to judge who is best qualified to be a yoga instructor, 200 hours of teacher training? If I’m not mistaken, BKS Iyengar got his start after winning a competition in India. If they do it in India, why not here?
Of course, if you’re talking about spiritual practice, that’s different. On second thought, maybe not entirely different.
[QUOTE=LivingDreams;27936]Just wanted to get some feedback on what you all think about Choudhury Bikram pushing for Olympic yoga in 2012???[/QUOTE]To me it would finally be a reason to be interested in the olympics. :-Dj I don’t think it would harm anybody, “Yoga” (actually Asanas) are used (or “abused”, if you think that way) for all sorts of things they aren’t intended for, so why not have great demonstrations every four years.
When I was beginning yoga I was told, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. I didn’t use any comparative techniques to choose my first instructor, and my current instructor “felt” right. I never saw her do an asana before I joined her.
It is my personal belief that yoga is more than asana, or classes. Yoga is about your choices and the way you live your life. How can you be competitive about choosing certain foods or meditating or breathing and focussing on being a positive force in the world? I eat better than you do? Meh!
If all you are looking at is asana then of course you can compete with that. But is that all that yoga is? Flexibility and strength? My first yoga instructor was 80 years old and certainly not as flexible as my current 30 year old instructor, but she was amazing and inspiring. A gold medal winner in my book.
LOL
I once went to a class when the teacher didn’t turn up, so we did the class without the teacher