International Yoga Sports Federation

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Foundation of the International Yoga Sports Federation — 1989

In 1989, the International Yoga Sports Federation was founded at the Blue Hall of the City Hall of Montevideo, capital of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The national organizations that participated in the foundation were the Yoga Federation of India, the Uruguayan Yoga Association, the Italian Federation of Yoga Sports (Federazione Italiana de Yoga Sports), and the recently established Argentine Yoga Federation, which at that time was in the process of being constituted and was represented by the Argentine Association of Yogasanas.

The proposal to create this institution was conceived by the Yoga Federation of India, the World Yoga Parliament, and the World Council of Yoga, later joined by the Latin American Union of Yoga, the International Yoga Federation, and various yoga centers from different countries.

Since 1974, the Yoga Federation of India had been promoting Sports Asana Yoga or Sports Yogasanas competitions. Its patron, Swami Gitananda, was also the President of the World Yoga Parliament and a great promoter of yoga sports, especially the 84 Indian-style Sports Yogasanas. The main support for the development of these disciplines came from the B. K. S. Iyengar School, the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga School of Pattabhi Jois, the Sivananda School led by Ranalingam, the Dhirendra Brahmachari School, and the International School of Yoga of Maitreyananda.

In 1985, the Yoga Federation of India decided to include Sports Yoga as a new yoga sport, adding it to the existing competitions of Sports Yogasanas, Mallakhamb, and Yantras. Sports Yoga was created in that same year by Maitreyananda (Fernando Estévez Griego), a Uruguayan-Spanish yoga master. The creation of this discipline was requested by the Yoga Federation of India and the World Council of Yoga, presided over by Yogavatar Krishna Kishore Das, after receiving a report from Dr. Gupta of the Punjab Yoga Association in the Netherlands, an entity affiliated with the Federation.

Dr. Gupta had witnessed a demonstration of Artistic Yoga and Choreographic Yoga, created and performed by Maitreyananda, in the city of Enschede, in the province of Overijssel, in the Netherlands. Impressed, he invited him to teach in India, since the Yoga Federation of India only held competitions of static postures, without music or movement.

Maitreyananda traveled to India in 1985 to officially found Sports Yoga, a new vision different from the physical competitions of Sports Asana Yoga or Sports Yogasanas, as it introduced spiritual and mental scoring systems to distinguish yoga from gymnastics and contortion.

Although at first Maitreyananda hesitated to create a sports form of yoga—coming from the Traditional Yoga, Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Yoga Vedanta traditions—he was encouraged by Yogavatar Krishna Kishore Das, Dhirendra Brahmachari, Swami Chidananda, B. K. S. Iyengar, and Swami Gitananda, who supported the idea of introducing a yoga practice with movement and music, aimed at reaching Indian youth who were not practicing traditional yoga.

In 1989, the first International Sports Asana Yoga or Sports Yogasanas Competition was held in India. At the end of that same year, Uruguay was awarded the venue for the First World Championship of Sports Yoga and Sports Asana Yoga (Sports Yogasanas).

The first president of the International Yoga Sports Federation was the nephew of Pattabhi Jois, representing the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga School, which presided over the Federation. The founding vice presidents were Maitreyananda (Uruguay–Spain) and Pietro Bonivini (Italy).

©️ Copyright: Mataji Lakshmi Devi (Grand Master of Yoga Masters: Eugenia Salas), President of the International Yoga Sports Federation.

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Our Services

The International Yoga Sports Federation functions as the global governing and coordinating body for Yoga Sports. Through its services, the Federation ensures standardization, transparency, development, and global growth of Yoga as a competitive sport.

• Organizes and sanctions World Yoga Sports Championships

• Approves and supervises continental and international invitational events

• Provides official event guidelines, technical supervision, and jury panels

• Maintains official records of results, medals, and performances

• Establishes and maintains international rules, regulations, and codes of points for Yoga Sports competitions

• Ensures uniform technical standards across all member federations

• Oversees ethical conduct, fair play, and discipline in international events

🌍 Global Governance & Regulation

🏆 International Championships & Events

• Represents Yoga Sports at global sports forums

• Coordinates with international bodies and partner organizations

• Acts as a central platform for global Yoga Sports diplomacy

• Grants affiliation to national and continental Yoga Sports federations

• Reviews and renews membership status as per federation statutes

• Supports member bodies with technical guidance and governance frameworks

• Facilitates international coordination among affiliated federations

🤝 Affiliation & Membership Services

🌐 International Coordination & Representation