Our Sport
History and Benefits of Yoga
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. The practice aims to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. Such a union tends to neutralize ego-driven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening.
Yoga was first recorded in the Pre Vedic-Era, before 4500BC, during the Indus Valley Civilization, which eventually became the modern day India. However, researchers have derived to the fact that Yoga may date back to more than 10000years ago.
Besides building overall fitness, yoga is known to help reduce stress, anxiety, helps to regulate your nervous system response, cultivates mindfulness, improve focus and memory, providing you with an overall physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
4 Paths of Yoga
Karma Yoga
Path of selfless action for the good of others via management of action. Cultivates the understanding of duty and rights, and unselfish actions.
Bhakti Yoga
Path of devotion. Cultivates the expression and love of your personal faith through devotions. Forms of this path include prayer, mantra chanting, singing, dancing, conducting ceremonies.
Jnana Yoga
Path of intellect and wisdom, with the management of knowledge. And its components include study of sacred texts, intellectual debates, philosophical discussion, and introspection. Mindfulness practice, self-awareness, and meditation often falls under this path of yoga.
Raja Yoga
Path of energy management, and the most popular Yoga practiced in modern day, which is also named as Hatha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, or Kundalini Yoga. Hatha Yoga is path of personal wellness and enlightenment through physical, mental, and spiritual means.
Types of Physical Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga (The Eight-limbed Yoga)
A traditional form of yoga practice conducted mainly in Sanskrit consisting of a fixed sequence of around 50 poses ranging from beginners’ poses to advanced poses. Ashtanga is considered to be the hardest form of physical asana (posture practice) due to its’ rigorous style. This practice is very energetic and involves strength, flexibility, balance, discipline, and cardio. Ashtanga is a dynamic practice and can be challenging for beginners.
Hatha Yoga (Sun and Moon Yoga)
Ranging from gentle and slow flows, to poses that requires strength and flexibility. A Hatha Yoga practice is an all-inclusive practice so to speak, consisting of the practice of physical yoga postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. This practice is suitable for beginners to learn basic techniques and alignment in poses.
Yin Yoga (Restorative Yoga)
Yin Yoga targets the deep connective tissues of the body – the ligaments, joints, bones, and deep fascia. This practice is slow paced and asanas (postures) are held for 2 to 10 mins, and sometimes longer, depending on the instructor. Yin Yoga works mainly on passive stretches to open the shoulders, hips, inner thighs, and lower spine. Yin Yoga is suitable in the evenings as a relaxing practice to finish the day off, focusing on mindfulness and having a meditative experience. This session is often conducted with meditative music, and is suitable for unwinding, and to find inner peace.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa means “to place in a special way”, and in relation to Yoga, this means yoga postures. This form of yoga is designed specifically to improve muscle strength and cardio endurance. The poses are challenging, and you move quickly from one pose to another, making it a fast paced and intense practice. Vinyasa Yoga is often considered very athletic and was adapted from Ashtanga Yoga in the 1980s.
Iyenagar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga was founded by BKS Iyengar and focuses on both alignment and precise movements. In an Iyengar practice, students are encouraged to learn how to control their breath by holding poses for a long time. The practices include using props like yoga blocks and straps until the practitioner is able to perform the poses without the aid of props. This style is great for people with injuries who need to work slowly while cultivating strength in the meantime.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is part spiritual and physical. This style encourages practitioners to release the kundalini energy that is said to be trapped or coiled in your body. A Kundalini class include invigorating postures and breath exercises and can be quite intense as it involves mantra chanting and meditation as well.
Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga)
Bikram Yoga is named after Bikram Choudhury and features a sequence of 26 set poses in a room that is intentionally heated up. The hot temperature may help to loosen muscles and promote flexibility. While the heat can be uncomfortable, hot yoga practitioners often describe the positive effects of the increased sweating as euphoric.
Pranayama Yoga (Breathing)
Pranayama refers to a practice on regulating breath. In this practice, practitioners focuses on the different breathing techniques that is beneficial to improving our daily wellness. These exercises are developed to help with mental focus, & healing, making it both a physical and mental practice.
Other Types of Physical Yoga
Acroyoga (Suitable for teambuilding), Elderly Chair Yoga, Kids Yoga (Age 5-10), Animal flow, Prenatal yoga, Aerial yoga, Jivamukti yoga, Anusara Yoga
Age Categories for Competitive Yoga
Junior Group A (05-08years)
Junior Group B (08-11years)
Teens Group A (11-15years)
Teens Group B (15-18years)
Men & Women Group A (18-24years)
Men & Women Group B (24-30years)
Men & Women Group C (30-40years)
Senior Group A (40-50years)
Senior Group B (Above 50years)
Types of Competitive Yoga
Yoga competitions have been conducted for over 2000years now, and is a big part of India’s rich history. Today, it is estimated that yoga competitions gained popularity again around 200years ago when Swami Vivekananda toured the Western World to popularize Yoga internationally in the 1890s. Yoga competitions are actively held all around the World now including in India, USA, France, Canada, Portugal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, Argentina, Kenya and Turkey.
​
Three Major Categories – Artistic, Rhythmic, and Traditional
Artistic
Athletes must perform asanas from a predetermined list, including arm balance, backbends, standing balances, twisting poses. Athletes would need to have an original creative routine synchronizing their postures to music within three minutes.
Rhythmic
Mostly conducted in pairs or groups. Asanas are to be performed in sync, and judging is based on transitions and synchronisation.
Traditional Yoga
Judged on technique and stability on each asana (posture). Ability to hold posture on form and for time.
Sub-Categories for Yoga Competitions
Yoga Acrobatic
Yoga Artistic
Yoga Athletic
Yoga Choreography
Yoga Dance
Yoga Flow
Scoring Criteria
Control of power, control of tension and contraction, control of speed and rhythm, technique, vision, stability and balance, harmony, pauses, breathing, concentration and spirit.