More than 300 yoga enthusiasts participated in the State-level Open Yogasana competitions held at Mysore University’s Pavilion Grounds recently and showcased their skills in performing difficult asanas.

Nanjangud MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan inaugurated the competitions organised by Basavarali Yoga Pratishtana in memory of Pailwan Yajaman Sri Basavaraju.

Yoga enthusiasts of different age groups from various districts of the State participated in the competitions which were held under different categories — Boys and girls in the age of 10 years, 11 to 14 years, youths in the age group of 15 to 18, 19 to 25 years, men and women in the age group of 26 to 30, 31 to 35, 36 to 45 and men and women above 45 years.

The participants were asked to perform asanas like Virabhadrasana, Vrikshasana, Paripurna Navasana, Purvottanasana, Halasana, Utthita Trikonasana, Ustrasana, Chakrasana, Janu Shirshasana and Makarasana.

University of Mysore (UoM) Physical Education Director Dr. C. Venkatesh, who spoke on the occasion, said that yoga is necessary for everyone to maintain good health.

“Yoga keeps away diseases and there are more than 10,000 people who practise yoga daily in our city. Of late, the number of people practicing yoga is increasing in rural areas and in Mysuru, many yoga records are being created. To promote yoga further, encouragement should be given to more yoga-related activities,” said Dr. Venkatesh.

UoM Physical Education Deputy Director Dr. P. Krishnaiah, former University Syndicate Member M.S.S. Kumar, Mangalore University Syndicate Member B.M. Prasanna, Basavarali Yoga Pratishtana Founder-President B. Ravi, Dronacharya Award recipient Arun Patil, Nanjangud Municipal Councillor Srikantaswamy were present on the occasion.