Rules

I. ELIGIBILITY:

The USA Yoga Championship is comprised of an adult and a youth championship. Individuals who participate must be members of the USA Yoga Federation. The adult division is open to all individuals 18 years and older. The youth division is open to all individuals 11 to 17 years old. There are two groups divided by gender for both divisions.

First and second place winners from every State of each category (adult and youth) are eligible to compete at the USA Yoga National Championship. The third place winner in all categories will serve as an alternate in case the champion and/or runner up is unable to compete in the next level of competition.

The USA Yoga National Championship is an invitational championship. If you reside in a State that holds no regional championship, you may be invited to participate in the USA Yoga National Championship if you travel to and participate in a championship in another State and are approved by the Head Judge. In that case, the qualified Head Judge will evaluate your posture demonstration and determine whether or not you are qualified to represent your State, where there is no USA Yoga Championship.

Eligibility to Represent States in USA Yoga Sanctioned Competitions

     1.Principle
     An athlete is eligible to compete in any state or regional competition provided he/she has maintained his/her primary physical residence in that
     state or region for a minimum of three (3) months prior to such competition, and has not competed as a resident of a different state or region
     during that competition season.  In cases of hardship, an athlete may apply to USA Yoga for an exception.

     2.Age Determination

• An athlete under the age of 11 will not be permitted to participate in the Age Group Competition Program under any circumstance. He/she must turn 11 years of age before he/she may begin competition.
• The competitive season is defined as August 1 – July 31. For all aspects of the program, an athlete’s competitive age is determined by his/her age on August 1st at the beginning of the competitive season.
• An athlete is allowed to move up one year in age for competition. He/she may move the one year based only on his/her age as of August 1. (Example: an athlete is 16 years old August 1, and turns 17 years old August 2, he/she may compete as an 17 year old, but he/she may not compete as a 18 year old because he was not 17 years old on August 1.)

II. PROHIBITION:

• Any stimulating drug or alcoholic beverage must not be used before or during the competition by any competitor and will be treated as violation of the rules.  Contestant will immediately be disqualified.
• Female contestants must not be pregnant.
• No contestant can participate as a judge at any regional championship. Athletes who are also registered and certified USA Yoga judges can serve as a judge once their involvement as an athlete is complete in any given year of competition.
• An athlete can only compete in one Regional USA Yoga Competition in any given year.
• No watches, clocks or timers are allowed on or near the competitor during their asana demonstration.
• Competitors are to maintain good conduct and proper discipline during competition. The USA Yoga Federation Board of Directors reserves the full right to suspend a competitor at any time.

III. REGISTRATION:

To enter a Regional USA Yoga competition, or the USA National Competition, participants must be active athlete members of USA yoga.

1. Join USA Yoga as an athlete.
2. Once your membership is complete you will be given a user name and password that you will need to enter your regional competition.
3. Visit the Event Calendar page of www.usayoga.org and select the regional competition you wish to enter.
4. Fill out the athlete entry form and pay the $25 entry fee. 
5. An electronic Waiver of Liability is part of the on-line entry form. The name of the parent or legal guardian must accompany the Waiver of all youth division contestants, and the electronic signature must be that of the parent or legal guardian, as stated on the entry form.
6. Participants must bring a copy of a photo ID with proof of age, or a birth certificate, to present when checking in.

IV. ATTIRE:  

Female: One or two-piece swimsuit, leotard, or exercise outfit with open arms and legs (no bikinis). The outfit should be elegant and modest.

Male: Speedo style swimsuit, or tight fitting shorts. Participants should minimize accessories and should not wear headbands or bandanas. Unobtrusive jewelry is permissible. The attire should not be overly revealing.

V. FORMAT  

When a competitor’s name is called he or she will walk to the middle of the stage, face the judges, bring hands to namaskar (prayer position in the center of the chest), bow to the judges and the audience and then release the hands to the sides.

Instructions will then be given by the words, “Start please,” for the competitor to begin. Each competitor will have three minutes within which to complete seven asanas (postures).

The three minute timing will begin as soon as the competitor makes his or her first move into his or her first posture.

Each posture is to be announced, in English or Sanskrit, by the competitor before beginning the posture. If a competitor falls out of a posture or fails to complete a posture, he or she is allowed a second chance to attempt the same posture. If the competitor again fails, he or she must move on to the next posture.

All competitors should consult with a coach, judge or someone who is familiar with the USA Yoga Asana Championship procedures prior to entering the competition so as to assure a smooth and well-presented demonstration.

VI. ASANAS:

For details and photos of the compulsory postures please see the document titled “Adult Division Compulsory Postures” or “Youth Division Compulsory Postures.”

ADULT DIVISION – 18 yrs. and older

Five compulsory asanas and two asanas of the competitor’s choice are to be demonstrated in the following order:

1. Dandayamana Janusirasana (Standing-Head-to-Knee) (4 parts)
2. Dandayamana Dhanurasana (Standing Bow Pulling Pose)
3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
4. Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose)
5. Pashcimottanasana (Stretching Pose)
6. Choice Asana
7. Choice Asana

YOUTH DIVISION – 11 TO 17 yrs.

Four compulsory asanas and two additional asanas, of the competitor’s choice are to be demonstrated in the following order:

1. Ardha-Chandrasana with Pada-Hastasana (Half Moon Pose with Hands to Feet Pose) (4 parts)
2. Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
3. Pashcimottanasana (Stretching Pose)
4. Ardha-Matsyendrasana (Spine Twisting Pose)
5. Optional Choice Asana
6. Optional Choice Asana

VII. JUDGING:

Each posture will be judged on a scale of 0 to 10 points. In the adult division, 70 points maximum can be given to each competitor. In the youth division a maximum of 60 points can be given.

All seven postures must be performed in the given sequence within 3 minutes. If any of the postures has not been completed within the allotted time, zero points will be given for that posture. If a competitor has completed a posture and the time runs out while the competitor is holding stillness in the posture, full points can still be awarded for that posture.

Judges will look for balance, strength, flexibility, well-paced timing and appropriate breathing in postures. Full points will be awarded if the competitor achieves the maximum expression of the posture and is able to demonstrate control of the body and breath while in the posture. Five seconds of stillness with controlled breathing in the maximum expression of the posture is recommended to demonstrate control. Points can be deducted, in whole or half point increments, for the following: wobbling, or lack of stability, hesitation or reversal of motion once the posture has begun, lack of proper alignment, poor timing and flow of posture, lack of stillness or lack of control once in the posture, falling out of a posture, uneven or forced breathing, etc.

A maximum of 5 points can be given for any posture that was attempted twice. Judges may consider body proportion and body type to determine how difficult a posture is for each participant. Judges will also consider the degree of difficulty when giving scores for the choice postures.

VIII. JUDGES:

USA Yoga Federation must approve all selected judges. Judges must not be constituents of the same yoga organization as the contestants being judged. Judges should preferably be from outside of the contending region. Relatives of a judge cannot participate in a competition the judge is officiating. Judges who are also coaches should not officiate at a competition in which one of their students is competing.

IX. DISCLOSURES:

The USA Yoga Federation will not be liable for any injury to a competitor sustained during or as a result of the competition. Competitors will not be allowed to participate with out submitting a Waiver of Liability. The USA Yoga Federation Committee reserves the right to add, alter, and amend the rules and programs at its sole discretion without prior notice. If a rule is changed, competitors will be fairly informed before their posture demonstration.