Sadhguru, spiritual leader and founder of Isha Foundation, has voiced strong opposition to the decision of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to include Yogasana as a demonstration sport in the 2026 Asian Games.
In a recent post on social media platform X, Sadhguru expressed deep concern over this decision, calling it a “disturbing and disappointing” move that risks reducing the ancient science of yoga into a “circus-like activity.”
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 argued that yoga, which has long been regarded as a powerful tool for self-evolution and inner growth, is fundamentally about enhancing human consciousness and should not be subject to comparison or competition.
“Yoga cannot be a competition. 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. With this, we will reduce the powerful Science of Yoga into circus-like activity of one trying to do better than the other,” said Sadhguru on X.
Yoga is not just an exercise. It is a process and system through which human beings can find their highest possible potential. #SadhguruQuotes pic.twitter.com/u1zQ3p1eRQ— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) September 10, 2024
He further emphasised that the true essence of yoga lies in helping individuals transcend their limitations and explore life’s deeper dimensions, making it unsuitable for a competitive framework.
“The fundamental of Yoga is about consciousness, not about comparison and competition. Hope as a Civilization that gave birth to the Science of Yoga, will have the wisdom to ensure that it does not become a ridiculous sport.”
Yoga is a science, and if you wish, an art form with which you can unfold your individual nature to its ultimate possibility and also create a Conscious Planet. -Sg #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/h5m0LTppAt— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) June 21, 2024
Sadhguru’s sharp criticism comes amid the recent decision of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to include Yogasana as a demonstration sport in the 2026 Asian Games, which will be hosted in Nagoya, Japan.
While the decision can be seen as a way to globalise and promote yoga’s physical aspects, Sadhguru’s concern highlights the need to preserve the practice’s deeper spiritual significance, to eliminate myths and distorted versions that continue to propagate in the name of yoga.
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