International Day of Yoga Yogasana Contest #IDY2026
Icon Shakti is happy to announce the first annual Yogasna contest for kids and adults on the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga (#IDY2026).
Date & Time: Sunday, June 14, 2026, 4 - 6 p.m.
Venue: National India Hub, 930 National Parkway, Schaumburg, 60173.
We are thankful to the Indian Consulate of Chicago and the National India Hub (indiahub.org/) for their help in conducting this contest.
If you want to sponsor prizes for this contest, please reach out to us.
We are thankful to our contest prize sponsors - VYAYAM (vyayam.com), Balodyan (balodyan.com), and VYANJAN (vyanjan.us), & Best Brains of Buffalo Grove (bestbrains.com/buffalo-grove), and Poornamidam Yoga School (www.poornamidam.org).
Please sign up here by June 10 for the Free Yogasana Contest: https://forms.gle/BHKdd7HBh7V899v67 .
Click to check out our Yoga for Wisodom, Wellness, and World Peace Poster Contest. ( https://tinyurl.com/idy26poster )
Click to check out our Yoga for Wisodom, Wellness, and World Peace Speech Contest.
Click to sign up for the free Community Yoga Practice event.
Yogasana Contest Rules:
1) The contest will be held in three age groups - Balance group ages 8-12 years, Breathe group ages 13-17 years, and Bliss group 18+ years.
2) Topic : Yoga for Wisdom, Wellness, and World Peace
3) Prizes for EACH group - first prize - $50, second prize - $35, third prize - $25, if a minimum of 10 participants are in each group. Only two prizes will be awarded in case of 6 - 9 participants, one prize in case of 3 - 5 participants. In case of less than 3 participants, the participants may be merged with the other nearest age category. Selected few demonstrators in each age category may be invited to demonstrate their asana live at the Community Yoga event on June 20.
4) There is NO entry fee for entering this contest.
5) The contest is open to all non-professional yoga practitioners of the ages specified.
6) All Yogasana will have to be demonstrated in person at the contest location.
7) Maximum time per demonstrator is 3 minutes. Demonstration beyond this time will be disqualified. Organizers' decision will be final in this regard.
8) Language of the Yogasana explanation should be English only.
9) Each contestant will demonstrate two yogasanas (one asana each from any two of the position categories - standing, seated, kneeling, supine, prone, arm balance, and inversion. For each Yogasana, the contestant will mention the traditional (Sanskrit) name of the Yogasana, mention its wellness benefits in 2-3 sentences, mention the wisdom derived from the Yogasana, and then deomnstrate the Asana. Each Asana demonstrated should be held for 10-15 seconds. If it is a one sided Yogasana, for example, Vrikshasana, only one side demonstration is sufficient.
10) Contestants may be required randomly to submit a proof of their birth date (birth certificate or school record).
11) A panel of judges will choose winners in each category based on criteria such as correct name of the Yogasana, form of the demonstrator, explantaion of the wellness benefits and wisdom derived, memorization, delivery, uniqueness, and overall effect of the demonstration. Judges' decision will be final.
12) Winners will be announced on Saturday, June 20 at the 12th International Day of Yoga event at Rotary Village Green (265, N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, IL, 60089 - 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.).
13) All are invited to join us for the free community yoga practice before the prize distribution. Please sign up for this free event here: https://forms.gle/r4mYgxLQ4hVVB84u7 (event is free, registration is mandatory).
14) For more information, please write to vidya@vyayam.com or call 1-847-537-4710 (landline).
15) Guidelines for the Yogasana Demonstration :
1. Aim to go beyond just physical demonstration — express how each asana connects the body, mind, and spirit, and how it contributes to a more peaceful world.
2. All demonstrations should reflect the theme: “Yoga for Wisdom, Wellness, and World Peace”. Participants are encouraged to connect their Yogasanas to: personal growth and inner wisdom, physical and mental well-being, and harmony within self and the world.