Yoga made the headlines locally for all the wrong reasons but then I don’t blame these religious groups. People often tend to fear what they do not understand or simply what they perceive to be ‘against their religion’.
Now, I don’t care about who is going to ban yoga for which group, as long as I am not banned from my own right to exercise whichever way I want. They can blardy well ban sex in bed for their people for all I care.
However, I wish to list here some of the facts about yoga so that all this confusion about the so-called religious aspects of yoga (or the non-existence of it) can be made clear to whomever is interested.
There are 8 limbs to yoga and of these eight, what was most popular amongst movie stars, fitness studios and Gabrielle of Desperate Housewives is only the physical aspect of yoga, Asana (yoga postures).
Now, in my experience, all fitness studios mainly have Hatha Yoga (the physical part of yoga by practicising the asanas) classes and I have attended many of these classes. So many, I lost count.
I even have Hatha Yoga books and VCDs at home. And let me make it VERY CLEAR, none of it involve any religious incantations at all. Not even one.
All of it was sweaty, panting and bending and stretching and yes, breathing. In yoga, breathing is very important so that you will be able to use your breath and expand your lungs while exercising.
Here are some of the basic postures of yoga:
Basic yoga postures
These do not involve meditation of any sort. Instead, it is to help stretch out your limbs for flexibility and also for balance. The Triangle is especially good to reduce the inches on your waist (trust me, the stretching does lengthen your torso muscles and give you a slimmer waist!).
The Tree is a posture to help you in your balance while the half Lotus is to stretch the joints on your knees. Cobra is to stretch your lower back and open up your chest.
Do these even sound religious to you?
Well, it isn’t to me. Hatha Yoga and the practice of Asanas is just another form of exercise for me. In fact, I’d say it is almost similar to Pilates (yep, another stretching type of exercise) but I am sure nobody would say that Pilates is religious, would they?
So, not all yoga practise is based on meditation and chanting.
Well, I am glad that there are people of more SANE mind who thinks that yoga is just another form of exercise…it is also interesting to note that orthodox Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE are NOT banning yoga…
SINGAPORE, Nov 9 - A Muslim cleric in Malaysia has called on Muslims to stop doing yoga exercises, but some religious experts in Singapore do not share that sentiment.
They are largely of the opinion that yoga is harmless as long as its spiritual aspects are not practised.
Professor Zakaria Stapa, a lecturer at University Kebangsaan Malaysia”s faculty of Islamic studies, said recently that yoga is based on Hindu elements and could affect the faith of Muslims practising it.
That sparked a nationwide debate and the Malaysian National Fatwa Council may issue a fatwa, or decree, on yoga soon.
The country seems to be alone in its concern.
Yoga centres are flourishing in more orthodox Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In Iran, yoga is so popular that there are classes for children.
In Singapore, Mr Mohammad Yusri Yubhi Md Yusoff, 33, executive imam of Al-Falah mosque, said: “Yoga may have its roots in Hinduism. But if you take away the meditation and other spiritual aspects, it becomes just another form of exercise.”
Veteran religious expert Pasuni Maulan, 64, agreed. The former registrar of Muslim marriages said spiritual elements in exercises are not exclusive to yoga. Silat, which has its roots in Malay culture, can sometimes involve hailing spirits, a practice not allowed in Islam.
“Those who are not sure about what is allowed may want to do other exercises,” he suggested.
As a rule of thumb, avoid the spiritual forms of exercises and embrace only the physical aspects, said religious teacher and counsellor Abdul Manaf Rahmat, 50.
Teacher Hafiza Yahya, 26, who studied yoga through books five years ago, has been doing just that.
“In classes, instructors may ask you to say Hindu incantations. I simply did the exercises without all that,” said the mother of two, who shed more than 30kg through yoga after each pregnancy. She now weighs a trim 46kg. - Straits Times Singapore
Ahh…this is what I call Malaysia Boleh.
Hmmm…all this yoga talk has reminded me. I’ve not practiced yoga for ages…hehehehe…
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