Yoga and sport are often seen as opponents, by nature of the quiet approach in yoga in contrast to the competitiveness of sport. In yoga, we talk about practice, whereas in sport accent is placed on training. The difference between training and practice is simple: training is for the future; practice is for the now. However, the movement towards the progress and the attainment of the individual's goals unite sports and yoga. In any given sport, there is a strong aspect of competition. Some yoga enthusiasts revealed a similar approach. There is nothing wrong about competition, if it is healthy and ethical. But the minute it creates stress and inner aggression, then it loses its noble value. It is the attitude of mind that makes the difference. The result of punishing the body and molesting the soul is a tightness of the joints, a shortening of the muscles and a general disharmony between the inner self and the outer body.
Understand that a properly prepared and unabused body will always enjoy various moves and positions, and that it will continue to do so for years to come. One needs to maintain a constant balance between stretching and relaxing, between strengthening and yielding, and between the quietness of the inner self and the performance of outer body.
Most physical exercises are designed to strengthen the body; yoga builds strength in a non-aggressive manner. Yoga releases energy through a relaxed process, so that there is no wastage and misuse of precious inner power. That inner force motivates a body to complete a yoga pose and not the strength of will. Yoga trains coordination of the movements of all the limbs from which emerges a sense of integrity and integration with the self and the breath. Out of that way of practicing, grace and stamina develop with a resulting and unmistakable feeling of lightness and renewed energy.
