Yoga Asana Championship - Judges Guidelines For Degree Of Difficulty

Footnotes:

1.    a)  These point values are a guideline for the maximum number of points to be awarded                        

      to a competitor who demonstrates technical mastery of the posture.  A competitor                        

      should not be awarded the maximum point value for a posture unless he/she has achieved                        

      the traditional final position of the posture.  For postures which may be completed in                         

      different ways, please refer to the Final Position column for the traditional final position(s).                        

    b)  Judges may add 0.5 point to any competitor's maximum score because of extraordinary                        

      depth, consistent with the integrity of the posture.  'Flourishes' added to a the final position of                        

      a posture shall not receive any extra points but may be subject to deduction.                        

    c)  Competitors are encouraged to choose a combination of optional postures which                         

      covers all three skill categories.  Judges may make a deduction of one full point for                         

      for each skill category not included.                         

    d)  When called upon to score a posture which is not listed, judges shall find the closest                         

      related posture which is listed and make an appropriate adjustment to the maximum                         

      point value.                        

                            

2.    These categories are for ease of reference only and have no bearing on judging or scoring.                        

      Please note that a posture may belong in more than one category but is only listed once.                        

                            

3.    The Final Position notes are meant to clarify frequently asked questions regarding the traditional final                           

      position of the posture and are not intended as a complete description of the posture itself.                        

                            

4.    Full Wheel may also be finished with both elbows on floor, hands holding ankles or interlocked,                         

      with chin and throat on the floor between feet. From standing, elbows must be lowered to the floor in a                        

       controlled manner, otherwise it shall be considered a fall.  For example, if there is an audible                         

      sound when elbows touch the floor, indicating lack of control, it shall be considered a fall.                        

                            

5.    This posture may not be appropriate for international competition.      

                 

FAQ's

Question: For Full Cobra and Full Bow, if the competitor brings the feet under chin and let's go with both hands, would this be considered exceptional depth of a pose or a flourish?

Answer: It would be considered a flourish.  Letting go of the hands is not consistent with the integrity of either posture.  See the Final Position comments for more information on the final position of those postures.

What does your favourite yoga pose say about you?

Here's what Cyndi Lee, Natural Solutions magazine has to say.


Whether you prefer twists, backbends, or inversions, here’s how your favorite yoga poses can give you valuable insight into your personality.


If you like:


Forward Bends: You prefer to keep your own counsel like a smart ostrich. At those times when life gets overstimulating–too many choices and too much responsibility–forward bends seduce you with the sweet serenity of folding inward and retreating from the world.


Twists: You like to know who and what’s going on around and behind you. You don’t see things in black or white but are stimulated by multi-dimensional situations and are not afraid of tension. Twists are a natural draw for those who find nourishment and joy from connecting to people and places while staying firmly grounded.


Back Bends: You find it refreshing to reverse the typical schlump of desk, car or depression. It feels good to rest your soft, open front on your confident, flexible spine and take in a big breath. Turning yourself inside out is quite extra-ordinary! For shy types this is scary and a true victory. For extroverts, it’s a natural as a sensuous morning stretch.


Balancing on One Leg: You are more curious about precision than perfection. For you, nothing is more fun than figuring out how to sway like a tree and still stay upright. You don’t even mind falling over because you always get back up and try again, understanding that is truly the heart of practice anyway.


Inversions: You’ve learned to include fears in the mix of a total experience. Perhaps you’ve started to blur the distinction between upside down and right side up, allowing for a vibrant sense of nowness wherever or however you are. Creative types who see things from all sides are drawn to inversions and so are those of us who just like to shake things up!


Click here to read more.