Yoga means many things to people, and the idea and phenomenon of redefining and misunderstanding yoga have always guaranteed one thing—further removal of Yoga from its original intent. One such attempt to chip away at the science of Yoga is for it to be included as a demonstration sport in the 2026 Asian Games. This concerted effort by multiple stakeholders who wish to disconnect Yoga from its Sanatana – Samkhya, Yoga, and essentially Hindu roots emphasizes the concern that showcasing Yoga in such a setting risks distorting its true meaning and purpose and turning it into a competitive display.
At its core, Yoga is a spiritual and meditative practice, a profound journey of inner growth that should be revered and respected. It is not designed for external validation or judgment. Even without direct competition, demonstrating Yoga in a sports arena can lead to a focus on physical performance—such as flexibility or strength—while sidelining the more profound, meditative aspects that define its essence. In essence, the sports aspect only highlights the physical or the asana aspect of Maharishi Patanjali’s Ashtanga (eight-fold) path without understanding that asanas, too, are not meant to be competitive.
In the gaming realm, presenting Yoga in a sporting context risks encouraging people to view it primarily as physical activity, marginalizing and erasing its profound mental and spiritual benefits. This shift in perception could lead to further commercialization and commodification of Yoga, which already is a multi-billion dollar industry due to its ‘bastardization.’ Here, bastardization conveys a couple of meanings. One represents the literal separation of Yoga from its roots in the Indian subcontinent, and second, Yoga is known for its physical components only, a phenomenon exacerbated by globalization.
Yoga’s listing in the Asian Games, even as a demonstration, sends a dangerous message that could lead to further mischaracterization, opening the door for further reduction of the practice to a sport-like spectacle. This skewing risks diluting the foundation of Yoga, which is about transformation and transcendence, and not focusing on the need to ‘do better’ than others. Introducing Yoga in a context driven by external achievement and performance diminishes its core values and spiritual roots, transforming a practice of inner transformation into one of external exhibition and a joke.
Unlike sports, designed around winning, outperforming others, and achieving physical feats, Yoga focuses on inner development, mental clarity, and expanding awareness. Turning Yoga into a sport fundamentally distorts its purpose. Competitive environments prioritize comparison and judgment, the antithesis of Yoga’s teachings. In a world where Yoga becomes a competition, the emphasis would shift from personal growth to physical prowess, turning a sacred practice into a circus-like display of who can stretch further or hold a pose longer. This not only undermines the spiritual aspect of Yoga but also reduces its profound psychological and physiological benefits to mere physical performance.
The Indian subcontinent gave birth to Yoga, and it is vital to honor and preserve its original purpose. It is disheartening to see that the Government of India has taken no steps in standardizing yoga credentials to guide its global spread and prevalence, nor has the government set up proper infrastructure for Yoga to be practiced and embraced in its original form within India. On the other hand, Yoga is often set up as a competitive sport in Indian schools, and the sports committees in the country have failed to see the larger picture by including Yoga as a sports category.
Who has lobbied the Olympic Council of Asia to make poor decisions about making a mockery of this profound, ancient practice? That is the million-dollar question. A nation is as good as its institutions, and there is a definite string of failures when it comes to preserving and promoting Yoga and other ancient systems of health and healing by AYUSH and now the Olympic Council of Asia. The bureaucrats within these organizations may not have the know-how, but the buck should stop with the leaders who sit atop the agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Yoga is a powerful science for self-realization, not a platform for competition. Contemporary science has yet to develop a yardstick to measure spirituality. Unfortunately, India, knowingly or unknowingly, leads the way in bastardizing Yoga. Yoga means union, which is the antithesis of competition. Listing Yoga as a demonstration sport in events like the Asian Games represents a misguided attempt to redefine and dilute an ancient spiritual practice, stripping it of its roots and profound purpose and turning it into a mere spectacle of physical prowess.
Further Reading:
Askegaard, S., & Eckhardt, G. M. (2012). Glocal Yoga: Re-appropriation in the Indian consumptionscape. Marketing Theory, 12(1), 45-60.
Kanojia, A. (2022). The politics and promise of Yoga: contemporary relevance of an ancient practice. Rowman & Littlefield.
Strauss, S. (2020). Positioning yoga: Balancing acts across cultures. Routledge.
Strauss, S. (1997). Re-orienting Yoga: Transnational flows from an Indian Center. University of Pennsylvania.