Introduced for the first time in the game India Youth Games, Yogasan is proving to be quite a hit here. The audience is left in awe as the contestants move their bodies to the various asanas (postures) to the tune of peppy music.
Indeed, the originators of this indigenous sport believe that it may have become as popular as universally accepted martial arts such as karate and judo.
Many believe that yogasana in its developed embodiment is not much different from artistic gymnastics. It also requires a great deal of flexibility, strength, precision and balance.
In addition, participants need to master their breathing, stick to a rhythm, even as they need to be mindful of many other aspects. Like gymnastics, mounting and dismounting are important, as close to perfection as possible.
Each player has to choose and perform nine postures, each lasting one minute, making it as demanding and strenuous as any other physical sport.
Umang Don, Technical Director of Yogasan Play The federation informed that the sport was recognized by the Ministry of AYUSH two years ago and made its debut at the Khelo India University Games last month.
“When it was known as yoga, there were some objections about the game. Hence it was named as Yogasana. Now, there is no doubt that this is truly a sport and it can be fought like any other.”
Emphasizing on the importance of yoga asanas, Umang said that it helps in preventing non-combat sports injuries. “In gymnastics, they keep moving into yogasanas, it is about holding the asanas for five to seven seconds and switching to the next asana. There are 250 documented postures and a competitor can choose any nine of them,” he Told.
Goa’s 10-year-old Yashika and 12-year-old Manasvi Das, who won silver in girls’ pair events, said they love the sport. They practice for six hours a day to perfect their mobility on the floor.
There were five events – singles, pair (boys and girls) and team events. “Bringing in a team event that involved five players was to bring in team spirit. Yogasana is popular in Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
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