During all the Olympics buzz, the call started arising once again to get yoga included as a sport. Some people practice and teach yoga like it’s a sport they are aiming to win at. Of course, sports are wonderful and there’s nothing wrong with winners. But yoga is a rare arena in which it’s possible for everyone to win. We don’t have just one winner. And who would win? Who is the best? The one able to gracefully do the most complex contortions and strength moves? Would these positions be good long term for the body? The “best” are those yogis who use yoga practices in the most effective, efficient way to serve their well being for decades, for a lifetime. How do you measure that in a contest? This sensitivity and awareness in yoga is something each individual must learn to measure for themselves each moment of practice–rather than assign it to judge’s opinion.
