A display of Yoga skills

By CHRISTINA LOW
Photo by AZLINA ABDULLAH

THE Malaysian Yoga Society held its first Open Yoga Asana (Posture) Competition recently with more than 200 people taking part in various categories.

The competition was a chance to witness a discipline performed at its highest level.

Each competitor had to demonstrate five Asana (Yoga posture) of their choice from a minimum of three traditional Asana groups. The five Asana must be completed within four minutes with each full Asana to be held steadily for at least five seconds before proceeding to the next Asana.

Among those who participated in the competition were S. Lalitha and P. Devasri, both 12, from SJK (T) Effin-gam in Daman-sara Utama.

Supple: A participant demonstrating one of the postures during the competition.

“Yoga postures are not really difficult if you practise daily,” said Lalitha who won the silver medal together with her schoolmates in the team category.

For best friends Yulia Borodina and Yana Cheryapina from Sekolah Sri Acmar in Bandar Baru Klang, it was their first time competing in such an event.

“I have taken part in dancing and singing competitions before.

“My mother taught us Yoga personally and encouraged us to compete here,” said 14-year-old Yulia who previously lived in Russia.

Proceeds from the competition and the jumble sale held outside the competition hall will be channelled to the Malaysian Yoga Society Fund for the building of a Yoga home in the Klang Valley.

According to Malaysian Yoga Society (MYS) treasurer Tay Siew Leng, the society hopes to raise RM500,000 this year from various other fund-raising projects to build the home.

“The home will be able to house about 15 underprivileged children and we will provide them with education as well as Yoga classes,'' said Tay.

Tay also added that the home which will be ready next year will be a place for the less fortunate children to learn Yoga free of charge.

At present MYS volunteers conduct free Yoga classes at SJK(T) Kinrara in Puchong, SJK(T) Effingham in Damansara Utama, SJK(T) Sungai Renggam in Shah Alam, National Cancer Society, Karuna Illham Girls’ Home, Ambu Illham Boys’ Home and Desa Mentari in Old Klang Road.