2008 Yoga Asana NYC Championship

[apettit88]

actually, in India they have been competing in yoga competitions for hundreds of years... its just now becoming more popular in the west. its a beautiful display of how the body can be pushed when you put your mind to it, not in any way to diminish the integrity of the yoga itself.

[mininairazabal]

what the fuck its this, yoga if for inner peace, not to show off

[elliotsilver]

shameful

[SimpleHuman100]

This reminds me more of gymnastics, more of a sport, than yoga. Most of the women who are this flexible, come from gymnastics or ballet, they've been doing that since 8 years of age. If I were in ancient Greece or Egypt, I'd definitely define this as static gymnastics. It's pretty impressive though...as all gymnastics are...

[dobakpolor1]

wow. impressive!

[vangoughny]

dumb white people 

[ScotsmanTillDeath]

@vangoughny White people made the world what it is today with electricity ect.. You best be grateful before i cut your tongue out kid.

[snatum]

Yoga competitions are an ancient tradition in India that spans thousands of years and take place almost daily. The asanas(poses) are a small part of yoga. This is not a yoga competition...more an "Asana Competition"

[purplecornflake]

competitive yoga is disgusting

[wladypimentel]

ridiculous...

[strid8282]

what do u mean yoga champion?¨

LOL, Yoga suppose to eliminate the ego... Champion???

is it a joke?

[gutaum666]

very bad execution...

no bhava,,,no yoga

[gutaum666]

very bad execution...

[Supernaught16]

I know.... Shame on the west.... I personally think that the Eastern tradition of suicide bombing is much worse than competing in yoga lol

[whizkeytangofoxtrot]

Yoga competitions are very common in India - moreso than in the west. I confess I don't understand the appeal and it is pretty opposite of what I've been taught by my teachers.

[shinigami01]

Beautiful girl, beautiful poses, but scared me a bit in the beginning. It looked as if she was an animal on display! "Turn right..." ;P

Anyways, kudos to the person who said that asanas were only a small part of yoga. This girl is only performing asanas as far as I'm concerned, and that's what's written in the title. No harm done. :D If there were ACTUAL yoga competitions, I wonder what it'd look like. o.o

[Fyredanz]

This is not yoga, this is poorly sequenced contortion.

[monaandchad]

I love yoga competition videos!!! Inspires my own practice and gives me a proper example of the asana.  And Courtney - nice work girl.

[mpgalindo]

Great flexibility, marvelous skills, but I do not see any yoga here.

[fallenmorningstar99]

lol....stop texting me suckers..we're in the age of kalyuga..that means physical pratice takes precedent over the true meaning of yoga as predicted by krishna during the mahabharata.....undoubtedly this is a western phenonomen...hence whY Ashtanga is proposed by celebrities such as russel brand....yoga has indeed become a gymastic form..shame on the ancient teahers of India..you bought this to the west without thinking of the spiritual conesequences..they make everything a competition...

[Squirrelleaf]

why would you ever make something as spiritual as yoga a competition?

[SimpleHuman100]

WOW!!!

[stretch4859]

the competitiive side of yoga asanas came from Bikram Choudhury, atleast that is what I had heard.

[OvoPiano]

competition doesn't have to be something aggressive or negative. Competition can be healthy and increase support and respect. It's like when we would have a piano competition in the piano class I attented. It was a funny thing, we all laughed and completed each other and we were proud of each one, it was a game that had the potential to increase our self-confidence and our relationship as students.

[gemglass88]

This looks like gymnastics, with more pretense but without choreography. I'd rather watch a gymnastics event.

[gnortsmra]

All of you folks who are commenting negatively — you are competing. If you are doing so on the grounds that yoga is not about competition, think: this humble event is about yoga asana — a minor offshoot of Yoga. You on the other hand compete on much higher ground. Do you really want to throw stones from within your temple?

[fallenmorningstar99]

how ridiculous.....making a sacred art like yoga competitive-against all teachings..shame on the west..they have a great way of spoiling eastern traditions.ignorant to the extreme..but anything goes in kaliyuga.

[DarkMrFrank]

just what i thought.

[joiningtheforce]

@fallenmorningstar99, @plazindrt - word.

It's still beautiful though... but a name like "body-art championship" or something would be more appropriate.

[artlover007]

@fallenmorningstar99 actually yoga competitions have been going on for hundreds of years in India, which is obviously in the East. Check your information before you assume that yoga competitions were started in the West.

[kooorga]

@fallenmorningstar99

yoga competitions are highly popular in india. i know plenty of people who did it there, when they were young. so spare us the "blame the west" please.

[fallenmorningstar99]

lol kooorga you're obviously not to be taken seriously..if you know anything about indian philiosophy or scripture...the whole idea of having a yoga competetion is contrary to the ethics of the art...but then again krishna did predict such things would go on in kalyuga..so kooorga do me a favour and dont comment on subjects you dont know..you're probably someone who thinks yoga is just about ddoing postures like 90% of westerners

[kooorga]

yeah, whatever. i learned yoga in kerala and mysore, so beat it, you hippie. and fyi: i read the feuerstein book.

[fallenmorningstar99]

koorga well done for embracing the art of yoga...just dont competitive or give credence to anyone who makes it competitive..ultimately yoga is about withdrawing the senses to control the mind in order to focus on God starting with asana practice..i wish i could go to mysore and kerala..youre lucky..just dont get caught on this whole we must achieve this and compete in that in yoga

[sergejcher]

@fallenmorningstar99 actually competitions between yogis happened all the time since yoga was founded, however officially as yoga sport it was announced more than 10 years ago

[soundsofyoursoul]

very nice athletic performace, great flexibility...but has a little to do with the real meaning of yoga... :) She might have used asanas, but really, can you call a performance YOGA?? I think that s misleading explanation for people who don t know yoga yet, and kind of offensive for yogis....

[almapoetica1]

Yes, these are only exercises, but... they demand the big knowledge of own body and to have strong will. This girl - true master, knowing secrets of breath.

And the true yoga - the spiritual philosophy, very deep subject, it have been understood by very few people even in India.

[bigmike7maccom]

I was employing heavy irony and sarcasm to mock the Championship. No need to apologize except now you've made me explain my own joke-- you can apologize for that if you'd like ;-)

[bigmike7maccom]

fqpunk-- why you always need to attack the Champion? Is it because SHE mastered yoga and you did NOT? Is it because SHE can wear the sexy bathing sujit with no ass wrinkling around thigh?

[edc18rc]

conducting this yoga asana concept is i think 1 way of promoting bikrham.

[99yoga99]

How come Bikram people win competitions by rounding their backs in forward bends. I guess its all about touching your toes in this style. Too bad for the heart an lungs.

[tassosa67]

Court is beautiful in a sensuous sense. What we see and what it makes us feel. But that's a performance. There is no integrity. She has little or no alignment, and therefore the mind is also 'sloppy'.

[lesdigerati]

I was sitting right next to the videographer during this routine. The whole thing literally brought a tear to my eye... was so inspirational! You can actually hear me and the end of the video when she's finished yell "yeaaah!".

Now, a year later, she's the reining World Champion!

[ffour]

i don't even understand why there's a need to have YOGA competition ! U mean u want to judge how flexible these pple can be? Or u think u can judge the knowledge of a yogini just by that few sec on the stage? Any yoga master can do those poses, so on what basis do u judge the champion of such a competition?

[kofianonym]

it's a way of celebrating yoga. it's not only about flexibility. It's about strenght, control, grace. It's also a way for students to inspire eachother and set goals for themselves. Of course it's not about who's better . Yoga is a like a never ending dance with your body and the universe. Wether you are doing it for a couple of months or eighty years you are never done learning :)

[Magpiephotos]

Beautiful Response.

[Magpiephotos]

You'll understand when you are ready to compete, however, based on the mind set you are currently in, competition is clearly not on your mind so, in the mean time, what gives you the right to judge us?

[koans19]

y que tiene que ver esto con el yoga?

[MattBL]

Nice bod.

[tasanica]

Sjajno! :)

[mastermoviewatcher]

there must be a whole bunch of dudes there going: yayeeeeeeeee

[josieocal016]

I have to agree with donmjuan. Stick figure? Nobody would honestly argue that she is in incredible shape. Of course yoga does not need to be exhibited, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with these incredibly talented people sharing their passion. It is not about ego at all. If anything, this woman is an inspiration to those of us practicing.

[donmjuan]

I can only surmise that some people have an aversion to the concept of 'competition' in a healthy and supporting way. If you knew these people and the love and devotion they put into their art/discipline, and how supportive and instructive they are to each other during the 'competition' you wouldn't adhere to misinformed and skewed concepts. Competition against ones own self, is both healthy and helps hone ones skills, spirit and sense of self. Get lives, all you naysayers.

[donmjuan]

To fqpund. You don't see the hypocrisy of your post. Your comment shows a lack of enlightenment in itself. Why would YOUR ego feel the need to personally attack, by making disparaging observations, someone whose soul and motivations you don't have a clue about?

[TachiRdiesDirty]

exactly...

im new to yoga and even I can see the error in many of these comments.

if some of these people were more, commited to thier own yoga then videos like this would not bother them, it would inspire them to improve.

[SwitchFoot2007]

As a practioner of yoga, as I have been for the last 10 years, it's disapointing to me how commercialized yoga has become. Very disappointing. Its a mockery against the very union in which yoga stands for.

[ATLASEDGE]

I was just thinking- championship, tournament, competition...hummm- is this not the very opposite of what yoga stands for?? Thumbs up for your comment.

[plazindrt]

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of yoga - that is is an individual, subjective path?

[reggaeyogagirl]

what is with the turn right at the beginning? Is it because she is so skinny they want to make sure she is really there?

[donmjuan]

Wow. . what a relevant and informed response. You must have stayed up all night trying to figure out something witty and wry.

[bigmike7maccom]

They must always do that in any type of competition to make sure there are no artificial pads stuffed in the bathing suits. It's like in a dog championship they have to bounce the scrotum lightly to see if there are BOTH testicles or if they are fake. Get over it.

[mediyoga]

Yoga is not for perfection of the body but of the mind or what ever you call it. Hatha yoga is only stepping stone. The inner change is more important than physical perfection. This is very obvious. This does not mean that we stop practising asanas, but that it should not stop there.

Dr Krishna Raman, physican and author of A Matter of Health and Yoga Medical Science:FAQ

[cmykgymnast]

Having read all the threads--I'm still having a difficult time trying to differentiate yoga competition vs. remaining an individual. Being an ex gymnast here's my take. If it is truly on ones journey, they then should have a category for people who has been practicing yoga for a few months and that are using blocks & straps. I agree with oli4ka13, based on performances people with ballet and gymnastics experience can make these competitions much quicker than a "yogi virgin".

[DizzyLizzy1983]

i totally agree that in practicing YOGA there should be no competition...but this is simply amazing

[maxina111]

Some argue that a competitive attitude, finding out who is better than whom betrays the underlying philosophy of yoga that the ego should be denied in favour of the pursuit of Enlightenment.

However, the intention of yoga in competition is not to single out who is the best, but rather is a competition that remains within the individual.

[wxyz2abcd]

Competition in hata yoga have been around for many thousand years in India. Bikram himself won Yoga competition in India

Hath yoga is for good health

[mojito222]

you're right, yoga is not for competiting...

[alienseek360]

i admire the flexibility, but a yoga competition? something not quite right with that lmao

[oli4ka13]

for me this vdeo have nothing to do with yoga. Yes she is perfectly flexible,but to perform this would not be very difficult for any!!! ballet dancer or any gymnast of middle level. I think Yoga is philosophy of life and not a public performance of your flexibility!

[cmykgymnast]

Very Inspiring. Question to some yoga practioners out there? If yoga is supposed to be a non competitive sport why do we have these events that do promote the "perfection" of yoga. As a beginning yoga student, my instructor tells me it's not the final expression, but the journey. There are some people that would never have the natural flexibility "in this lifetime" that these great

amazing winners have. I appreciate these people. Their practice is amazing. How do you compete and still do yoga?

[maxina111]

Similar to Olympic Gymnastic competitors, yoga champions are judged on their own skills, flexibility, strength, and poise, and not against the next competitor. Advocates of competition in yoga argue that it can encourage people to improve emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

[thinkjesus]

mad smooth

[LoredanaYoga]

that is truly ammazing. As a yogini I am truly inspirated. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[yogibeertje2]

Thank you for sending this video. Let it be an inspiration for other yogi's and yogini's.

[ronrogers2]

Well done! What a beautiful, graceful and flexible exhibition. Amazing!

[ronrogers2]

She is absolutely beautiful, graceful, flexible!  Amazing!

[yoyogi63]

Beautifully done! Now i can't wait to see the other contestants get posted.

[gnortsmra]

If humility compared to attainment could be factored in, Courtney would have won 1st place instead of second. But as numerous commentators have pointed out, this is an asana competition, not a yoga competition, so being a really great person makes no difference. I mean no disrespect to the winner; just pointing out that Court is really exceptionally down to earth compared to her talent.