I spent the weekend at the International Yoga Asana Championships in Los Angeles California. Yoga finalists came from  around the world to compete. Each contestant has to perform 7 poses, 5 compulsory and 2 optional. There were 7 international judges.  It was beautiful, yet intense, to watch the athletes flow through their series of poses with a time limit of only 3 minutes.  The last thing anyone wanted to hear was the word "TIME" before they had completed the last pose. Their grace and strength was truly amazing. All are winners with positive attitudes. The finalists support and encourage each other. This  is more of a yoga demonstration than competition. Bikram has been working on getting yoga in the Olympics for the past few years.  He has spoken with Lord Sebastian Cole, chairman of the organizing committee of the London Olympics. They have also started conversations with the

USA olympic commitee. They are all hopeful, and see promise with the possibilities of getting yoga to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Raj  Bhavsar,  2008 Olympic bronze medalist is helping to make this dream a reality as well. He is a Bikram student, and understands fully the challenges of yoga. Raj  was a guest at the Championships and shared his story of pursuing his Olympic dreams. He was an inspiration, as were all the finalist at the Yoga Championship.

I spoke with 3 young ladies from Kansas;  Isabel Marshall- Kramer , Katherine Marshall-Kramer,  and Sally Carter,  about their desire to see yoga become a Olympic sport. Katherine placed 3rd in the International youth division and her sister Isabell placed 5th. I hope we will be able to see their dream and many others come to fruition, and some day soon see Yoga at the Olympics!