Yoga: A Practice Without Boundries

By John Dunbar
1 June 2009 07:55:00

Yoga: A Practice Without Boundaries

Yoga has no boundaries.  You do not have to cross a border to practice yoga, change your religion or take a giant spiritual leap to become a yogi.  You just have to do it. 

In November, 2008 Yoga was banned for Muslims in Malaysia.  I should have responded to this at the time but wanted to take time to reflect on it, and I was also hoping that given some time, they would reverse the decision.

If you are unaware of this please refer to this link to the Guardian online news service:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/24/malaysia-islam-muslims-yoga-ban

To quote from the article:

"The country's leading Islamic council has issued an edict prohibiting people indulging in the exercise, fearing its Hindu roots could corrupt them."

As I write this there is a Muezzin in the minaret of the local mosque calling the faithful to prayer.  I have often practiced yoga while he is calling and enjoyed the sound of his lyrical voice as I come in and out of postures.  

When I speak to Thai yogis who are Muslim, they are very confused by the decision in Malaysia.  All have told me that they do not believe that their yoga practice in any way affects their religious beliefs.  Many feel it enhances their religious connections.

Yoga is not a religion.  There is often a lot of confusion about this, especially since its origins can be traced to Hinduism.  Yoga is more of a lifestyle then a religion.  If anything, it heightens your religious experience by bringing you closer to your spiritual side.  

I can understand that there is some confusion about yoga and religion.  I too have been confused when I practice yoga with certain teachers or organizations.  There is often chanting in yoga classes, but this is because that particular practice has come from a guru or spiritual leader that chooses to incorporate chanting.  If you walked in to your first yoga class and the teacher is chanting ‘Om', or praying in Sanskrit it could easily give the wrong impression.

I do not chant in my yoga classes because I feel it is really a personal practice that is up to each individual.  However, I do listen to a lot of chanting on CD though as I find it very meditative.  But none of it ever challenges my religious beliefs.

The one chant that is often used in yoga classes and by yogis the world over is: Om Shanti, shanti, shanti... Peace, Peace, Peace... And that is really what yoga does, brings peace to our minds, and thus peace to all.  I hope that the authorities in Malaysia will one day understand this and reverse the ban on yoga practice - I just can not imagine people having to practice yoga clandestinely!

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