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Yoga'lympics

Namaskar,

How about this one...since many are talking so much about adding yoga to the Olympics...

Event: Which country can best serve the poor and suffering of ANOTHER country.

Scoring: Performance based on efficiency, benevolence, sacrifice, spiritedness, and selflessness.

In my mind, that would be a true yoga'lympics.

Those interested in asana competitions as Olympic events have basically strayed from the spirit of yoga - that's my feeling anyway. This is not to say that asana competitions should be totally banned or shunned - I just feel there are better avenues for representing the tenets of yoga.

Why not have compeitions that help all rather than glorify a single individual.

With brotherly affection and gold medals to all!!

Satyam

 

Comments




  • Love it! And couldn't agree more with you!

    RicardoDasNeves, 2 years ago | Flag

  • I've been gone a few days - I wish I'd checked in sooner, because this turned into a VERY interesting discussion.


    Satyam - your response to my comment gives me much to think about.  I see what you mean about the pitfalls of people bending to their own will the purpose of yoga (or any pursuit, for that matter), and at the same time, I am confounded by how, when, or why it might be my place to "take a stand" or let it be.


    This is one of the things I love so much about this community - I'm not sure yet that I agree with you 100%, but I'm also not sure that I don't...  I love having all of this to ponder.


    Like the practice of yoga itself, I think that the process of discussing these sorts of issues - regardless of our particular perspective on the subject - makes us all stronger in our committment and understanding of what this practice means to us, personally, and how it helps us clarify our intention in life.  Thank you for such an intriguing subject!


    Namaste,


    Laura

    lsharkey, 2 years ago | Flag

  • Satyam,


    I could not agree with you more here.  The thought of asana competition just makes me CRINGE.  I've heard some people say that the up side is that more people would be exposed to yoga this way, and any path to yogic living is a good one.  I, however, would argue that they are not being exposed to yoga at all - they are being exposed to competitiveness and ego, which (IMHO) is not what this beautiful practice is about.


    I love the idea of a competition that helps all rather than glorifies a single person.  Well said!

    SolitaryRose, 2 years ago | Flag

  • Excellent!


    Paloma

    Paloma, 2 years ago | Flag

  • I've been thinking about this a lot as many folks who know yoga is my passion have forwarded along articles on yoga as a formal competition. Anyway, I hadn't yetr taken the time to clearly express my thoughts ... and now I don't have to!  You did it for me! WinkThank you!

    amy@yogawithspirit.com, 2 years ago | Flag

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