Some experts believe yoga competitions have existed for thousands of years, almost since the practice first originated. Benjamin Lorr, author of the 2012 book Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga, notes that India has ancient traditions of competitive wrestling, and so it's likely that yoga competitions were held millennia ago too. According to the International Federation of Yoga Sports, though, competitions in their current form — Hatha yoga, focused on asana (posture) and pranayama (breathing) — are probably just 200 years old.

Doesn't competing defeat some of the purpose?

Maybe that's why it's controversial.

I see you have a yoga balls stash. :) Not sure why I am delighted.

Because it's fun to say the word yoga balls?

And yes I think that's why it's controversial.