Fans of the Olympics are used to noticing an extra bounce that takes points off a gymnast’s score, or a less-than-vertical entry that makes the difference between a first- or second-place dive.
If one group has its way, Olympic spectators will someday be looking for deductions caused by a twitch during the Om posture, or a wobbly ankle while performing the Full Standing Bow.
Yep, that’s right, there’s a movement to make yoga an Olympic sport.
“It’s a process that takes a very long time — a decade or more of work to try to make this happen and, of course, the results are never guaranteed,” said Jon Gans, a member of the board of directors for USA Yoga, based in Los Angeles. “In the meanwhile, the effort is to gain more acceptance for yoga asana as a competitive sport.”
Competitions are already happening on the international level, with divisions for men, women and youth who quality at regional and national events.
The 2013 Utah & Wyoming Regional USA Yoga Asana Championship starts at noon Saturday, Jan. 12, in Weber State University’s Wildcat Theater. The competition continues until 3 p.m. in the theater, which is in the Shepherd Union building on the Ogden campus.
PREVIEW
- WHAT: 2013 Utah & Wyoming Regional USA Yoga Asana Championship
- WHEN: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12
- WHERE: Shepherd Union Building, Weber State University, 3848 Harrison Blvd., Ogden
- TICKETS: Spectators, $5/adults, free/younger than 12
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