23RD PONDICHERRY STATE YOGA SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

[Guest guest]

23RD

PONDICHERRY STATE YOGA SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Such a great event

was the 23rd Pondicherry State Yoga Sport Championship 2008! Great

event in many ways! It motivated all participants to prepare more intensively

and consciously for Yoga Sport competition and of course it helped to improve

their personal Yoga Sadhana. Some of my friends were preparing for Yoga Sport

championship every day and their improvement was so visible! So many changes

within few days! Such a great motivation was given by this Great Yoga Sport

Championship conducted by Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani who continues this

beautiful work founded by our dear Swamiji and beloved most loving Amma.

On the Saturday

morning of the 6th December, within few hours the building of

the marriage hall at Naveena Garden Kalyana Mahal on Satani Street totally changed its

outer and inner image. Ordinary dining hall full of many tables with red

and yellow plastic chairs around was uplifted to one of the main stage for Yoga

Sport competition with more than hundred chairs for the audience. Beautiful

gigantic poster with Swamiji's smiling face shining from the stage into the

whole space filled the atmosphere with his blessing and divine light.

Similar changes were done on the second floor which also became the main hall

with three stages ready for Yoga Sport competitions. Swamiji's beautiful

smiling face was shining from all sides. Also the main door of the building was

decorated with beautiful posters welcoming all visitors to the event. Entering

this door was like entering into the new very special dimension.

The Championship was

inaugurated with the lighting of Kuthuvillaku (5 sacred wicks) by our dear Amma

who was all the time with us like a shining support and divine queen of the

event. After the lighting of the Kuthuvillaku all the four stages became alive

and very busy with the start of the Yoga Sport Competition. Nearly 600 Yoga students

came one by one on the stages and showed their skill in Yoga Asanas in the best

manner. Thousands of beautiful states of Asanas were created and performed

during these two days of Yoga Sport Championship! And thousands of marks

1-10 were given by the judges! Such a busy time for everyone! But still all of

us had a great inner uplifting time!

Everything was

going so smoothly, Dr. Ananda did an amazing effort to bring people together

and gave all of us chance to learn, to grow by sharing and experiencing the

championship. Everyone seemed to be happy. It was nice to see that the competitors

supported each other in many ways and gave always big applause to everyone with

excellent posture. As Amma used to remind us, "Even if we don't win the

competition - we win, because we learn". That is such as beautiful and wise

idea! Life is about learning and this Championship was an opportunity to learn

and improve our inner qualities in many ways!

It was admirable

and so inspiring how Dr. Ananda skillfully and with loving care directed the

whole event during both days. He created an atmosphere which people enjoyed a

lot. At the same time we all got many opportunities to learn through many new

experiences that came to us during the Championship. For such an amazing

service and many efforts in the filed of Yoga field in India and all over the world Dr.

Ananda was honored on Sunday the 7th December with the title "Yoga

Kalaimamani" (Gem of the Art of Yoga) by Muthamizh Mamani Pulavar I Pattabiramane.

In India

people have a very beautiful custom and tradition of showing appreciation for

the efforts of others. It is a very positive feedback bringing

satisfaction and motivation to continue doing our best in our life.

Sunday afternoon

was the real example of that, when during more than one hour many awards and

prizes were distributed to many participants and also to special Guests who

pleased audience with their thoughts and Yogic ideas during Championship.

I am sure, that

everyone was truly honored by valuable memories of these two unusual special

days of Yoga Sport Championship 2008.

 

Yogacharini

Shobana

Gitananda

Yoga

Czech Republic