Isa Yusuf calls yoga a lifelong dream and global bridge
Ahmedabad : For Isa Yusuf, an athlete representing Nigeria at the First World Yogasana Sports Championship, the journey to Ahmedabad is not just about competition, it is about fulfilment, discovery, and a long-held personal dream finally taking shape.
A trained physiotherapist, Yusuf says his introduction to yoga began nearly a decade ago during his academic years, when he first studied the human body, movement, and rehabilitation sciences.
“My name is Isa Yusuf. I am an athlete representing Nigeria and also a doctor of physiotherapy. I got introduced to yoga about nine to ten years ago when I was studying physiotherapy. That is when I developed an interest in learning it,” he said.
That early curiosity, he said, stayed with him through the years. But it was only after coming to India for his master’s degree that he saw a real opportunity to deepen his engagement with yoga as both a discipline and a way of life.
“Last year I came to India for my master’s degree. Then I realised it is a great opportunity to fulfil one of my dreamsto learn yoga properly,” he said.
For Yusuf, participation in the inaugural World Yogasana Sports Championship marks his first international sporting event. Yet he says the experience has already exceeded expectations.
“It is my first time participating in an international event, but I can say this is one of the best events organised,” he said. “The way everything is managed, the way participants are taken care ofit is exceptional. I would say it is 101 per cent to the federation and the organising committee.”
The championship, held in Ahmedabad, has brought together athletes from more than 75 countries, marking one of the largest global gatherings for competitive Yogasana. For many participants like Yusuf, it is also their first exposure to yoga being treated as a structured competitive sport.
He said the event reflects a rare combination of tradition, discipline and modern sporting organisation.
“What I am seeing here is unity. Yoga means connection. It means unity with all,” Yusuf said, echoing the central theme of the event.
The Nigerian athlete also said the championship has changed perceptions about yoga being confined to one geography or culture.
“Many people think yoga belongs to one place, but here we see athletes from all over the world. It shows yoga is truly global,” he said.
Yusuf, who works as a physiotherapist, said yoga also complements his medical understanding of the human body, movement and rehabilitation.
“As a physiotherapist, I understand muscles, joints and movement science. Yoga connects all of that in a very natural way. It is not just exercise; it is awareness of the body,” he said.
He added that participation in the championship has given him a new appreciation for how yoga is evolving into a structured sport with global reach.
“I have learned that yoga is not only about health or therapy. It is also discipline, control and performance. It requires focus like any other sport,” he said.
Yusuf also praised the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of the event, saying it reflects India’s long association with yoga.
He referred to the presence of senior organisers, judges and dignitaries at the event, saying it added to the significance of the championship.
“The way the event is being celebrated in Ahmedabad is historical. There is unity among participants, coaches, judges and volunteers,” he said.
He also noted that the event carried a message of global togetherness.
“Yoga is about unity. And here, I am seeing people from different countries coming together with one purpose,” he said.
For Yusuf, the championship is not just a sporting milestone but also a personal turning point. What began as academic interest in physiotherapy has now expanded into a deeper engagement with yoga as a global discipline.
“This is more than an event for me. It is a dream I started years ago, and now I am living it,” he said.
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