Ahmedabad, India - Kemi Blake, a US yogasana athlete, won gold in the Back Bend Senior B category at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships, accompanied by her daughter Kimani Blake, who also competed for Team USA.
Kemi, who started practicing yoga a decade ago to become a contortionist, discovered competitive yogasana through social media and trained in India before returning to the US to share her experience with her daughter.
The mother-daughter duo believes yogasana's competitive format does not contradict the discipline's traditional values, despite reservations from some sections of the yoga community.
They faced logistical challenges, including a three-day journey from the US due to disruptions linked to the ongoing Gulf war, but remained focused on their goal.
Kemi aims to bring yogasana to the Olympics, while Kimani appreciates the sport's ability to unite people across cultures and help her remain calm during stressful situations.
