Competing to attain enlightenment? It could be a stretch. Yet some of the region's best yoga practitioners brought their poses to Hong Kong this weekend for the first major competition of its kind to be held here.
The inaugural Dayal International Yoga Championship began on Friday and will end today at the Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building in Central.
Organised by the Hong Kong Yoga Federation and Dayal Leisure and Cultural Association, the total prize money is HK$60,000 - the most offered for such an event in Asia.
The tournament drew some 170 participants - and organisers expect that figure to rise next year based on the success of this year's event. Competitors from overseas are given subsidised accommodation and free board.
Seven places are supporting the competition, with representatives from yoga associations and federadtions from India, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, mainland China, Macau and Vietnam.
'Our ultimate goal is to foster a healthier and buoyant Hong Kong via the peace and happiness that yoga can bring,' said one of the tournament organisers, Yuva Dayalan.
'We want to build a platform for yoga practitioners to share their knowledge and experience via international teacher workshops, training programmes and championships which meet international standards.'