What attracted you to the practice of Yoga?

I have been practicing fitness and wellness in various forms over the last 27 years. I’ve found that having a supple spine and a flexible body enhances mobility — and Yoga precisely helps achieve this. It also improves focus and recovery. By renewing our attention on breathwork, Yoga yields powerful results.

What is your perspective on Yogasana being viewed as a competitive sport?

When we incubated Yogasana Sport, two critical points guided us:

• If we didn’t formalize it, another country might — and commercialize what is originally India’s gift to the world.
• Currently, Yoga is popular mostly among those over 30. Turning it into a sport can attract the youth across genders and offer international medal opportunities.

Additionally, Yogasana Sport can grow India’s wellness economy, introduce prize money, better pay, and create appeal for brands — especially with female participation gaining traction.

How has IDY impacted the development and recognition of Yogasana as a sport?

Since its inception in 2015, International Day of Yoga (IDY) has brought global focus to Yoga, broadening its appeal beyond wellness to its athletic potential. This inspired India to incubate Yogasana Sport in 2019 (under the Ministry of Ayush) and recognize it as an official sport in 2020 (under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports).

IDY has motivated international sports organizations to consider Yogasana, and it should now evolve into a year-round movement supported by Ministries and Indian consulates globally.

To what extent has Yogasana evolved independently from traditional Yoga?

Traditional Yoga emphasizes spiritual growth and personal well-being. In contrast, Yogasana Sport involves standardized rules, scoring criteria, and competitive formats. It is officially recognized by MYAS and governed by national and international bodies.

Events such as the Asian Yogasana Championship and Yogasana Super League (YSL) illustrate how Yogasana has evolved into a dynamic sport appealing to the younger generation.

Has your experience in sports infrastructure through TransStadia contributed to Yogasana?

Absolutely. My background in building and managing world-class sports infrastructure helped us define the framework and branding of Yogasana as a sport. Our goal has been to transition from the “ashram to arena” by bringing structure, objectivity, and innovation into Yogasana’s development.

What are the biggest hurdles Yogasana Bharat faces in achieving global standardization, and how are you addressing them?

The biggest challenge is differentiating Yogasana from traditional Yoga and making it media- and TV-friendly to attract global audiences. Establishing a unified scoring system that balances artistry and precision is also essential.

Key strategies include:

• Creating an international standardization framework
• Collaborating with the Ministry of Sports
• Using AI-assisted scoring systems
• Launching Yogasana Super League (YSL)
• Integrating Yogasana into school and university sports globally

What message would you like to share with aspiring Yogasana athletes on IDY 2025?

“Work hard, innovate, and capture the imagination of the fanbase.”