Bulgaria is one of the first European countries to promote competitive yoga. For the last ten years an international yoga festival has been held with great success. In this year’s event the oldest participant was aged 78 and played together with his great grandson, aged 13. Those taking part in the competition ranged from famous people (a popular TV program anchor) to little children. The participants measured skill, strength, grace and poise, and at the same time their performances were a pleasure to watch. The contest took place under the patronage of the Sports Minister of Bulgaria and provoked substantial interest in the media and audience. The government has granted the Bulgarian Yoga Federation a budget that totals 5.000 levs for year 2005. That is far from enough for the promotion of competitive yoga around the world but contestants believe that with grace and poise in every pose they can make people see yoga not only as a way of life but a graceful sport too.
