'Reducing Yoga to circus': Sadhguru reacts to Yoga entering as sport in 2026 Asian Games

Indian spiritual guru Sadhguru has expressed his disappointment over Yoga entering as a “sport” in the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), announced on Sunday (Sep 8) that Yogasana will now be a part of the Asian Games calendar as a demonstration sport. The decision was made after the resolution for the same was passed unanimously at the 44th General Assembly of OCA. The sports organisation also elected India’s Randhir Singh as the OCA president for a term of four years from 2024 to 2028.

"Yoga will be a demonstration sport in Nagoya as the calendar for the 2026 Asian Games has already been made and approved," said Randhir.

"In 10 days time we have managed to convince all members and include yoga, which is being promoted by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

This will be the first time that yoga, which originated in India, will be performed on an international stage as a big sporting event. The promotion of yoga at the global level was one of the Modi administration’s special agendas. In September 2014, PM Modi suggested thatJune 21 be celebrated as International Yoga Day, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Meanwhile, Sadhguru, the founder of Isha Foundation based in Coimbatore, is of the opinion that yoga is not meant to be a competitive sport but a method of self-discovery and self-evolution.

"It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that #Yoga is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition," said Sadhguru on X.

“Yoga is a powerful tool & mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited perception and experience of life. This should not be done in competition with somebody else.”

It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that #Yoga is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition. Yoga is a powerful tool & mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited… pic.twitter.com/uhlfUJ7VfS — Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) September 10, 2024

Sadhguru, who talks about the benefits of yoga and also teaches yoga and mindfulness to people online and through various platforms, says the science of yoga should not be reduced to circus-like activity.

"The fundamental of Yoga is about consciousness, not about comparison and competition," he said further.

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On the other hand, the OCA president is of the opinion that yoga will need to make its impact in the Nagoya Games to be included as a medal event in the 2030 Asian Games.

"We have to tell other nations about the benefits of yogasana. We need to send instructors and teach other nations and make it popular," said Randhir.

(With inputs from agencies)