How is the difficulty of an asana counted?
B · Beginner · The sport and its events · 2 of 4Every optional asana sits in one of five categories: forward bend, backward bend, twisting body, leg balance and hand balance. Each category has two sub-categories, which makes ten charts. Within a chart, asanas are graded from group A to group E, and each carries a base value that multiplies the judges' mark.
How it works
- Five categories: forward bend, backward bend, twisting body, leg balance, hand balance.
- Ten sub-categories: forward bend standing (FBS) and floor (FBF); backbend standing (BBS) and floor (BBF); twisting body forward bend (TBF) and backbend (TBB); leg balance forward bend (LBF) and backward bend (LBB); hand balance forward bend (HBF) and backbend (HBB).
- Groups: A to E, from easiest to hardest.
- Code: the sub-category, the group and a number, such as BBS-D1 or HBF-E3.
- Base value: in the sample score sheets, 0.8 for group A, 0.85 for B, 0.9 for C, 0.95 for D and 1.00 for E.
- Compulsory asanas: in the traditional event, each carries a base value of 1.00 on the sample sheet.
- The sum: the judges' mark for the asana is multiplied by its base value.
The glossary has the asana, the five categories of asana, the asana code, the difficulty groups A to E, the base value and the compulsory and optional asanas.
Tricky cases
What does a code such as HBB-D5 mean?
A hand balance backbend, from difficulty group D, the fifth asana on that chart. On the sample sheet it carries a base value of 0.95.
An athlete scores 8 out of 10 on a group A asana and 7 on a group E one. Which is worth more?
The group E asana. Eight times 0.8 is 6.4, and seven times 1.00 is 7.
Is the group E asana always the better choice?
No. A group E asana marked at 6 scores 6. A group A asana marked at 8 scores 6.4.
Where are the base values for each asana set out?
In the optional asana charts, Annexure 1 of the Code of Points. Those charts are not saved. The values here are read from the sample score sheets.
Why the rule exists
Without a weight for difficulty, the safest plan would be to perform the easiest postures perfectly. The base value rewards a harder asana, and the modest gap between 0.8 and 1.00 means a hard one done badly still loses to an easy one done well.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Base value 0.8 | Code of Points, sample sheets |
| Group B | 0.85 | Code of Points, sample sheets |
| Group C | 0.9 | Code of Points, sample sheets |
| Group D | 0.95 | Code of Points, sample sheets |
| Group E | 1.00 | Code of Points, sample sheets |
| Compulsory asanas | 1.00 | Code of Points, traditional 11 |
From the rule book
Code of Points for yogasana sports, Chapter 5, Guidelines for Yogasana Events (School Games Federation of India copy, edition not stated), traditional points 11 and 12, and artistic single sections 8, 12 and 13. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the national federation's Code of Points (only Chapter 5 is saved).