Can it be a sport?

If martial arts, that rely on mind-body coordination, can be a part of international sport, so can yoga

With Delhi University legitimising yoga as a sport and allowing practitioner students to claim admission under that discipline’s quota, there is a debate over whether yoga is a holistic philosophy, spiritual exercise, a physical test or all? Civilisationally speaking, yoga embodies the larger definition of sport, a mind-body-soul exercise that leads to overall well-being, fitness, positivity, energy and strengthening the core of your being. It is non-destructive, has a display potential as body art and has been innovated upon too. If martial arts and gymnastics, that rely on mind-body coordination skills, can be a subject of international sporting events, so can yoga. Power yoga, an accelerated variant that tests endurance, is already a rage internationally. Sport, by its very definition, includes all forms of competitive physical activity and ever since the UN declared yoga day, most nations are outdoing each other in the global fitness challenge for self-improvement and demonstrable proof of agility and energy, often in open stadia. Just like any other sport, yoga is governed by a strict ethical code  of practice and mindset. Most importantly, it encourages the spirit of what we call “sportsmanship”, being respectful of other fellow practitioners. Besides, when education has become a high-scoring battle zone, yoga should be encouraged as a sport to combat student stress, sharpen focus and preparedness. The perception, perhaps, gets altered considering that yoga has always been seen as a lifestyle adjunct, an individual practice born of habit, a meditative process that is deeply personal. But just like wushu and Tai Chi in China, which have become show sports and now even have world championships, one could carry yoga to the competitive level with encoded norms as a postural sport. Besides, with so many centres and schools of yoga instruction and practice, a championship format could well be drawn up to generate interest in a holistic discipline that in the end is an accelerator of the most important aspect of human resource development — that of health. Famous Chinese superstar Jet Li is already campaigning aggressively for inclusion of wushu and martial arts as Olympic disciplines with a new competition code and standards. However, the idea of competition seems antithetical to the spiritual nature of yoga, one that harmonises you with the environment. But there’s no harm in developing a sub-discipline called sport yoga. Besides, the yoga day this year has already found new pitches to involve our billions. Yoga is being customised for severe health challenges. For starters, there is an emphasis on a specific routine for women over 40 to take care of their menstrual issues and gynaecological health. Then there is another protocol being worked out for diabetes management.