WHEN word about the country’s first ever yoga asana competition spread, everyone wondered: Why stage a competition for an ancient practice considered sacred by many of its devout followers? Doesn’t it go against the nonjudgmental, noncompetitive nature of yoga?
“This is not the ego speaking here. This is about love, the love they have for the practice. This is about sharing what they’re doing, sharing a part of themselves,” said Ren Soriano, one of three judges in the first Philippine Yoga Asana Championship (PYAC) and senior teacher at the Bikram International Headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
PYAC aims to “create a platform where the beauty of yoga can be showcased, and to encourage more people from all walks of life to discover, in their own way, the many benefits yoga can bring—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.”
Held recently at the Francisco Santiago Hall, Banco de Oro South Tower, Makati Avenue, Makati City, the event saw 27 yogis and yoginis inhaling, exhaling and leaving an audience breathless and in awe of their sheer strength and flexible postures.
Beauty came in many forms, and the love of yoga was felt in the cozy auditorium, especially during one most anticipated routine. It was that of PDI’s Sea Princess Tessa Valdes, who smiled, even giggled, through some of the most challenging postures.
Criteria
With standardized judging criteria, participants were judged according to walk, movement, general appearance, gracefulness, performance of postures. A total of five compulsory asanas (postures) plus two additional asanas of choice had to be performed within three minutes.
Only three yogi joined in the competition, so that all emerged winners. Aljarreau Galang was in first place; Anton Shokhrin, second; and Arthur Cabantog, third. In the women’s division, Lital Isaacs took the first-place award; Rieko Umemura, second; Chrissy Tuason, third; Kay Villarica, fourth; and Regina Guanco, fifth.
Other participants included Karina Baluyot, Rosario Calayan, Noelle Co, Rosanna Kristine Cruz, Kim Cruz-Chan, Marilyn Dee, Ginger Diaz, Anne Margaret Lim, Didi Manahan, Menchie Matiga, Rosemarie Ordinario, Dina Salang, Dinah Salonga, Deanna Tan, Mabelle Ramirez, Rochelle Traupe, Tessa Valdes, Debbie Villaflores and Luchi Villarica.
For a mere three-minute max showcase of flexibility, strength and concentration, participants on the average practiced almost 10 times a day for two-and-a-half months.
“We saw commitment, perseverance, hard work and love on that stage tonight,” said Tristan Choa, chair of PYAC and studio director of Bikram Yoga Manila.
The objective of the competition is for the country to have its first delegates to the Bikram Yoga International Competition in Los Angeles. Part of the proceeds of PYAC will go to the Bishnu Ghosh College Trust Fund, which was created to raise funds for the Ghosh’s Yoga College in Kolkata.
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