Is Yoga a Sport?
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The British Wheel of Yoga Says: Not in the Traditional Sense
The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), the National Governing Body for Yoga in England and Wales, calls for a clear distinction between yoga, a lifelong physical, mental and spiritual discipline, and Yogasana, an emerging competitive discipline based on yoga postures.
Yoga does not fit the traditional definition of sport. It does not use structured competition, objective scoring or the goal of winning. Yoga invites self-inquiry, awareness, and liberation from the afflictions of the ego. Its core teachings emphasise non-competition, non-comparison, compassion and kindness.
However, competitive Yogasana is a distinct and rapidly developing discipline. In June 2026, India hosted the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad, positioning ‘Yogasana’ as a global sporting discipline with the longer-term aim of Olympic recognition.
BWY accepts this development represents a sporting iteration of yoga, but not yoga itself. If Yogasana gains recognition as a sport, it could bring structured postural practice into schools, universities, workplaces and public funding streams.
But BWY believes that access to yoga should not depend on competitive selection or athletic ability:
“Competitive practice may have value, but it should not be confused with yoga,” said BWY Chairperson, Diana O’Reilly. “Yoga is a spiritual discipline, not simply a performance or a medal count. For many practitioners, yoga offers a counterbalance to performance culture: a space to develop awareness, resilience, mobility, breath awareness and self-compassion.”
About BWY
The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) is committed to sharing yoga’s transformative power and rich heritage through events and education. Guided by yoga’s principles and traditions, BWY’s mission is to enrich lives through yoga, increasing accessibility and inclusivity. Established as a registered charity in 1965 and recognised as the National Governing Body for Yoga by Sport England and Sport Wales, BWY serves more than 5000 members and is supported by a 100-strong local volunteer network and a small central team.
For all media enquiries
Natalie Lyndon, BWY PR & Communications Officer
