Yogasana Takes Over Romania As Jane Amutha Rajuveloo Converts Championship Success Into Government Recognition And Community Growth

The first World Yogasana Championship may have ended in Ahmedabad, but its impact is already being felt far beyond India's borders.

Just days after returning from the landmark event in Ahmedabad, Romania's medal-winning yogasana athletes transformed International Yoga Day celebrations at Bălcescu Park in Focșani into something different by blending traditional yoga practice with competitive yogasana demonstrations, children's sports activities and public recognition for athletes who had represented the country on the world stage.

For organiser, coach, and Yogasana athlete Jane Amutha Rajuveloo, the championship changed how she viewed yoga's place in the community.

"After the competition, I see a lot of changes," Jane said.

"I also learn, adapt and see many athletes in India. There were many techniques that I learned from the World Yogasana Championship."

World Championship Experience Shapes Yoga Day Event

Held in a public park in Focșani, Romania, the International Yoga Day event brought together around 35 active participants alongside local residents who stopped to watch the activities.

The celebrations came just days after Romania's contingent returned from Ahmedabad, where athletes won 10 medals at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship.

The event was organised by ACS Yoga Pentru Toți Focșani and led by Jane. Around 30 to 35 participants, including athletes, children, parents and community members, attended the three-hour programme held under this year's International Yoga Day theme, "Yoga for Healthy Aging."

Rather than limiting the event to traditional yoga sessions, Jane used lessons learned in India to showcase yoga as both a wellness practice and a competitive sport.

"This year I see a wider screen at the moment," she said.

"It's not narrow anymore that yoga should only be done in a certain way. Now we have opened yoga as a part of sport."

That shift was visible throughout the programme.

Young participants competed in yogasana-based games involving Malasana squats, balance challenges and timed headstands, while medal-winning athletes demonstrated the techniques that had helped them succeed in India.

Bringing World Championship Medallists Into The Spotlight

One of the most notable aspects of the celebration was the decision to place athletes at the centre of the event.

Romania's World Yogasana Championship medallists were invited to demonstrate their routines in front of the community, while organisers explained the discipline, consistency and training required to compete at the international level.

"Those who won medals came in front and performed the asanas," Rajivelu explained. "I explained each asana, the holding time and how they won the medal."

The athletes' success had already gained attention before they returned home. Romania's achievements at the World Yogasana Championship were highlighted by the Embassy of India in Romania, helping spread awareness of the country's medal haul across social media.

During the Yoga Day celebrations, participants were also able to see the medals won in Ahmedabad, take photographs with them and learn more about the emerging sport.

Government Support Follows International Success

The impact of Romania's performance in Ahmedabad extended beyond the yoga community. The event was attended by Focșani City Manager Cătălin Popescu and Deputy General School Inspector Lauriana Ailincuței, who joined the celebrations as distinguished guests and recognised the achievements of the athletes who had represented Romania at the World Yogasana Championship.

The support has opened new opportunities for future community programmes.

According to Jane, local authorities have now made the public park available for regular yoga activities throughout the summer.

"The Mayor said if I want to make the community better where we live, public spaces must be used in a proper way," Jane recalled.

"He said sports should be done there, like yoga. He told me that whenever I want, I can use this place."

The announcement effectively gives yoga practitioners access to one of the city's most prominent public spaces for future classes and community programmes, providing a lasting legacy from this year's International Yoga Day celebrations.

For Rajivelu, the gesture represented growing recognition of yoga's role within the wider community.

Beyond Asanas: Building A Community

This year's International Yoga Day theme focused on healthy ageing, a concept organisers linked not only to exercise but also to social connection.

"Healthy ageing doesn't mean only exercise and closing yourself in four square boxes," Rajivelu said.

"You have to get out from the house. You have to mingle with society, friends and the community."

Participants practised yoga outdoors among trees, open spaces and natural sounds, with sessions designed to encourage both physical activity and community engagement.

The event also featured a special performance by one of Romania's silver medallists, who showcased a Bharatanatyam routine inspired by Indian culture, a performance prepared in just one month following guidance from instructors in India.

A Legacy Already Taking Shape

The first World Yogasana Championship was designed to elevate yogasana as a competitive discipline.

For Romania, its influence became visible almost immediately.

What began as a global championship in Ahmedabad evolved into a community celebration in Eastern Europe, where athletes returned home not only with medals but with new ideas about how yoga can be taught, presented and experienced.

"I know next year is going to be great for sure," Rajivelu said.

"We would love to bring more traditions and culture from India: music, food, culture and yoga together. It will open people's minds."

Throughout the event, athletes displayed the medals they had won in Ahmedabad, while community members were invited to learn more about yogasana as a developing competitive sport. Certificates were presented to athletes and participants, and children took part in specially designed yoga-based games aimed at introducing them to the sport in an accessible way.

For now, the journey of the first World Yogasana Championship continues - not inside an arena, but in parks, communities and Yoga Day celebrations thousands of kilometres away from where it all began.