Meet Jared McCann: The 2012 USA Yoga Asana Champion
"It’s not a competitive atmosphere at all....I don’t think anyone’s thinking 'I’m going to beat you!'— Jared McCann, the winner of 2012 USA Yoga Asana Championship and a New York City instructor
A few weeks ago, yogis from around the country gathered in New York to do something some might consider decidedly un-yogic: compete.
And when the 2012 USA Yoga Asana Championship was over, the men’s champion was Jared McCann, a New Yorker. McCann scored a 63.4 out of 70 after completing the five mandatory postures and two optional (he chose Handstand Scorpion and Peacock).
He’ll go on to represent the U.S. at the international championship in Los Angeles this June.
We caught up with McCann, who teaches at Yoga to the People and Dharma Yoga, to ask him about his victory, what it takes to become a yoga champ, and the layers of irony involved:
So, how did you first get involved in competitive yoga? I didn’t start doing yoga until I was 26. [He's 31 now.] I was so inflexible and drinking a lot a the time and had a generally unhealthy lifestyle. I went to a Bikram yoga class, and it was really difficult and painful for me, but I loved it. It somehow felt familiar to me, I can’t explain it. From that first class on, I was totally addicted, and I would go five to six times per week.
Then, one day, the owner came up to me and said, “You are doing the yoga competition.” She’s a strong woman who you don’t argue with, so I did it. And it ended up pushing my yoga practice and gave me something to focus on in class. It was a little extra incentive for me to hold the postures and to work a little harder.
How did you prepare for the competition? A lot of competitors will spend two weeks training, but I don’t. I just keep going to yoga and doing my thing. I feel like what the competition is really about is being present on stage while all of these people are watching you, because you feel judged and doubts start to creep in.
That makes sense. You probably get this question a lot, but doesn’t competitive yoga go against what yoga is about? Shouldn’t yoga be about inner focus and not beating out other people at poses? The whole thing is kind of ridiculous [laughs]! But I’m not doing it to beat people and become the yoga champ. At the end of the day, the reason I love doing the competitions is that I love showing people my asana practice, which will hopefully inspire someone else. That’s how I got into it, seeing people do postures I couldn’t do, and wanting to do them. I worked on it, and practiced it. Hopefully someone will see my practice and be inspired.
The competitions are also really fun for me at this point, because these cool yoga people get together once a year from all over the world. It’s not a competitive atmosphere at all. We’re all friends with each other, and we all want each other to win. It’s tense because everyone is nervous to do their routine on stage. But I don’t think anyone’s thinking “I’m going to beat you!” —Lisa Elaine Held
I love Jared McCann’s response thtat he is doing this to inspire others. I think the idea of competitive yoga, however, is nothing short of sacrilegious. At the heart of yoga is spiritual insight. It’s bad enough that in the US yoga is often equated with only the physical facet of yoga – hatha yoga – and neglects the other kinds of yoga which stress finding valuable causes, meditating, pursuing wisdom etc. A shift from competition to a tantra yoga practice that expands one’s consciousness might be more advantagious for all involved. Let us remember that yoga should lead to joining together not pitting against each other.
I noticed in the article when he said: Then, one day, the owner came up to me and said, “You are doing the yoga competition.”
What is it like to have the owner of the studio encourage you?!
Afton Carraway, representing Florida and the reigning champion, executes a pose during the Women’s Finalist round at the USA Yoga National Yoga ASANA Championship on March 4, 2012 at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. The final rounds, including ten women and ten men and a Youth Championship, are the result of over 100 competitors from 32 states being judged on poses’ level difficulty, poise and composure, and grace of movement. (Andy Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
I agree they’re very different and this guy has very strong points ; but Kasper is in samadhi all the time (isn’t it the point of yoga?) and shows more strength, especially in backbends (watch them closely)….See what I mean?
“WALK THE TALK” If Jared McCann is all about INSPIRING others, than perhaps he can start by “inspiring me”. I lent him my “stick”, a muscle stretching piece of equipment at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck. He had hurt his shoulder and I kindly let him borrow it, which he very much appreciated and PROMISED to return. Well I have tried several ways to get it back and unfortunately he has not responded. Yoga is MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT !! If you are all about YOGA than PLEASE find it in your heart to return it back to me!!