Which optional asanas can an athlete pick in the traditional event?
I · Intermediate · The traditional event · 1 of 5Optional asanas must come from different categories and must not repeat a compulsory asana or an optional one from an earlier round. The difficulty allowed rises by round: for sub-juniors, juniors and seniors it is groups A to C in the quarter-final, A to D in the semi-final and A to E in the final. A wrong choice scores zero.
How it works
- Not a compulsory asana: a compulsory asana of any round may not be performed as an optional one.
- Different categories: the optional asanas in a round must not repeat a major category.
- No repeats across rounds: an optional asana used in an earlier round may not be used again.
- Sub-junior, junior and senior: groups A to C in the quarter-final, A to D in the semi-final and A to E in the final.
- Senior A: groups A to C in the quarter-final and the semi-final, and A to D in the final.
- Senior B and senior C: groups A to C in every round.
- A wrong choice: the asana is invalid and scores zero.
The glossary has the compulsory and optional asanas, the difficulty groups A to E, the five categories of asana, the invalid asana, the base value and the traditional yogasana.
Tricky cases
A junior performs a group D optional asana in the quarter-final. Is it marked?
No. Only groups A to C are allowed in that round, so the asana is invalid and scores zero.
Can both optional asanas in a round be backward bends?
No. Major categories may not be repeated, and the second asana scores zero.
An athlete used an optional asana in the quarter-final. Can it be used again in the final?
No. Optional asanas from the quarter-final and the semi-final may not be performed in the final.
Can a 40-year-old perform a group E asana in the final?
No. A 40-year-old is in senior B, where groups A to C apply in every round.
Why the rule exists
Holding back the hardest groups until the later rounds keeps the early rounds safe and gives the final something new to show. The limits for older age groups are there for the same reason of safety. Banning repeats means an athlete needs a range of asanas and not one party piece.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-junior, junior, senior | A to C, then A to D, then A to E | Code of Points, traditional 8 |
| Senior A | A to C, A to C, then A to D | Code of Points, traditional 8 |
| Senior B and C | A to C throughout | Code of Points, traditional 8 |
| Every group | No compulsory asana, repeated category or earlier optional | Code of Points, traditional 8 |
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 point 8 and the compulsory asana chart pages. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the national federation's Code of Points (only Chapter 5 is saved).