Malaysia abuzz with debate about the practice of yoga
By Channel NewsAsia's Melissa Goh | Posted: 02 December 2008 0029 hrs

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been all abuzz with debate about the practice of yoga in the predominantly Muslim country. An outright ban has since been relaxed to allow Muslims to practise just the physical exercises.

A group of Muslim women, mainly young professionals, have been practising yoga regularly for over a year. They said they've benefited from this ancient form of exercise which has its roots in Hinduism.

"It really gives me a sense of peace as well as I feel much healthier," said one woman.

Another woman said: "I am still a Muslim, I didn't convert."

Mazlifah, who is trained as a doctor, said she’s not about to give up practicing yoga despite the controversy surrounding the exercise.

She said: "At the moment, I don't think it's affecting my faith. I will continue."

Malaysia's national fatwa council recently shocked the multi-racial country by issuing a blanket ban on the practice of yoga among Muslims.

The council held that the practice of yoga as a whole would lead Muslims to deviate from Islamic teachings.

The edict angered many yoga instructors especially those who are Muslim.

The ruling has since been relaxed to allow the practice of yoga as long as it doesn't involve chanting.

Intan Suraya Hashim, director, Studio W, said: "Our place itself, we have got so many Muslim women and nobody has come up to me to say ‘we are not comfortable with it’. We instructors have been careful to eliminate these kinds of points."

Roslin Mohd Daud, Yoga instructor, said: "Even the chantings are not religious. If you translate the chants, it just means ‘may we both be nourished, may we both work together with great energy, may we not hate or dispute each other.’ It finishes with the word "Shanti" which means peace.”

The ongoing debates have highlighted the widening gap between the conservative and liberal Muslims in this country.

While some are appealing to the national religious council to stop micromanaging their way of life, the conservatives fear that this may undermine the authority of national fatwa council. - CNA/vm