In February 2013, two parents in Encinitas, California, took their children’s school district to court. The reason was a set of twice-weekly yoga classes in the district’s elementary schools. Their claim was serious: the classes promoted Hinduism, and a public school can’t teach religion.
You’re probably not planning a lawsuit. But you may be asking the same thing. Maybe your gym class closed with “Namaste” and it gave you pause. Maybe someone at church warned you off. Or maybe you’re just curious where all of this comes from.
So, is yoga a religion? You’ll get the short answer right now. After that comes the evidence: the old texts, the court ruling, the survey data, and what Christian, Muslim, and Hindu voices have said on the record. The parents lost, by the way. More on that below.
Quick Answer: No, yoga is not a religion. Yoga is a spiritual and physical discipline that began in ancient India and grew within Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Yoga has no single creed, no required deity, no clergy, and no conversion. People of any faith, or of none, can practice yoga without changing what they believe.
Key Takeaways
- Yoga is not a religion. It has no creed, no clergy, no required deity, and no conversion.
- Yoga does have spiritual roots. It grew up in India alongside Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
- A US court has ruled on this. In 2015, a California appeals court found that one school district’s yoga classes did not establish religion.
- Most Americans practice for health. 16.9% of US adults did yoga in 2022, and 80% of them did it to restore their overall health, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
- The devotional parts are optional. You can skip chanting and still be doing yoga.
Inteyoga is a yoga school in Colva, South Goa, India. You can read about its teacher and faculty or see the courses it offers.
Is Yoga a Religion? The Short Answer
No. Yoga is not a religion, because it lacks the things that usually make a religion a religion. A religion typically comes with a fixed set of beliefs, a deity or deities to worship, a clergy, and a clear line between members and outsiders. Yoga has none of these. Yoga is a set of practices for the body, breath, and mind, and anyone can use them.
There’s a second half to the honest answer, though. Yoga was born inside the religious cultures of India. For many Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, it is part of their spiritual life. So yoga can be practiced religiously. It just doesn’t have to be.
Two facts settle most of the debate:
- No creed and no conversion. The Yoga Sutras, the classical text on yoga, don’t ask a student to accept a statement of faith. Nobody joins yoga, and nobody leaves another faith to practice it.
- No single owner. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and secular forms of yoga exist side by side.
Try a simple test. A Catholic who takes a Tuesday night yoga class at the YMCA is still a Catholic on Wednesday morning. Nothing was signed. Nothing was renounced.
What Is Yoga, in Plain English?
Yoga is a discipline of body, breath, and mind that aims to steady your attention and ease suffering. The United Nations describes it as “an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.” The word itself comes from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite (United Nations, International Day of Yoga).
The classical definition is even shorter. The Yoga Sutras, attributed to the sage Patanjali, define yoga in a single line: yoga is the stilling of the movements of the mind (Yoga Sutra 1.2).
Look at what that definition leaves out. There’s no god in it and no ritual. It describes a mental skill, something closer to training than to worship.
The Yoga Sutras lay out eight parts of practice, known as the eight limbs, or Ashtanga Yoga:
- Yama: ethical restraints such as non-violence and truthfulness
- Niyama: personal observances such as cleanliness and contentment
- Asana: posture
- Pranayama: regulation of the breath
- Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses
- Dharana: concentration
- Dhyana: meditation
- Samadhi: absorption
Many American studio classes focus on limbs three and four, postures and breathing. That explains a lot. A class at your local gym can feel like a workout, while the wider tradition feels like something deeper. Both impressions are accurate.
What Religion Does Yoga Come From?
Yoga comes from ancient India and developed within the traditions now called Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. If you’ve wondered what religion yoga is associated with, Hinduism is the closest match. But the origin of yoga is older and wider than any one of the three.
An official Government of India account by Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, published in 2015, places the beginnings of yoga thousands of years ago, well before organized religion existed. The written record is easier to trace, although the dates of the ancient texts are approximate and scholars disagree about them.
| Period | Text or Event | What It Adds to Yoga |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd to 1st millennium BCE | The Vedas | Early references to discipline, breath, and austerity |
| 1st millennium BCE | The Upanishads | Yoga as control of the senses and inner inquiry |
| Around the turn of the Common Era | The Bhagavad Gita | Paths of action (Karma Yoga), knowledge (Jnana Yoga), and devotion (Bhakti Yoga) |
| Dated between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE | The Yoga Sutras, attributed to Patanjali | The eight limbs; yoga as training of the mind |
| About the 15th century CE | The Hatha Yoga Pradipika | Postures, breathing, and cleansing practices |
| 1893 | Swami Vivekananda speaks at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago | Yoga philosophy presented to an American audience |
| 2014 | The United Nations proclaims June 21 the International Day of Yoga | Formal global recognition |
The dating of the Yoga Sutras shows how unsettled this history is. Encyclopaedia Britannica notes a wide range of scholarly opinion, from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE (Britannica, Yoga-sutras).
So “what religion is yoga?” doesn’t have a one-word answer. The same government account says that “Yoga does not adhere to any particular religion, belief system or community” (Yoga: Its Origin, History and Development, Government of India, 2015).
Is Yoga Hindu or Buddhist?
Yoga is both, and it’s also Jain. Yoga took shape in a shared Indian culture, and each tradition built its own version. Classical Yoga is counted as one of the six schools, or darshanas, of Hindu philosophy. Buddhism and Jainism developed their own meditative and yogic disciplines.
India’s official Common Yoga Protocol, published by the Ministry of AYUSH, reflects this mix. It lists Jain Yoga and Bouddha Yoga next to Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga as traditional schools.
Is Yoga Considered a Hindu Practice?
Many Hindus say yes, and they have a point. The Hindu American Foundation ran a campaign called “Take Back Yoga” to win broader acknowledgment that yoga has Hindu philosophical roots. The same campaign stressed that yoga is universal and appropriate for everyone (NPR, 2012).
Both things can be true at once. Acknowledging roots isn’t the same as adopting a religion, and you can honor where yoga comes from without taking on the faith it grew up beside.
Is Yoga a Religion or a Philosophy?
Yoga is better described as a philosophy and a practical method than as a religion. In the Indian classification, Yoga sits beside Samkhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta as a darshana, a word usually translated as “way of seeing.”
Among those six schools, Yoga is the practical one. It borrows most of its theory from Samkhya and adds a method: the eight limbs. That is why a person can take up the method without signing on to the theory.
Does Yoga Believe in God?
Yoga doesn’t require belief in God, and it doesn’t rule God out. The Yoga Sutras mention Ishvara, often translated as “the Lord.” But devotion to Ishvara is introduced with the word “or,” as one way among several to steady the mind (Yoga Sutra 1.23). Optional devotion would be strange in a religion. In a philosophy, it’s ordinary.
The wider tradition leaves the question open in the same way. Bhakti Yoga is built around love of a personal God. Classical Samkhya, the school closest to Yoga, has no place for a creator God. A believer and an atheist can both practice yoga without contradicting themselves.
Is Yoga Spiritual or Religious?
Yoga is spiritual for many people and religious only for some. Spirituality is a personal search for meaning and inner quiet. Religion adds shared doctrine, worship, and membership. Yoga gives you tools for the first and leaves the second up to you.
If you’ve heard someone describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” yoga fits that description well.
Is Yoga a Religious Practice?
Yoga becomes a religious practice when the practitioner makes it one. A Hindu devotee who offers each Sun Salutation to Surya, the sun deity, is practicing religiously. An accountant in Denver doing the same sequence to loosen a stiff back is exercising.
Same postures. Different intention. Andrea Jain, a scholar of yoga at Indiana University, has said that “yoga has never belonged to any one religion” (America Magazine, 2021).
Is Kundalini Yoga a Religion?
Kundalini Yoga is not a religion. It is a style of yoga that combines postures, breathing, mantra, and meditation, and chanting is a regular part of many Kundalini classes.
In yogic tradition, kundalini is described as a dormant energy that practice is meant to awaken. The idea appears in older Hatha Yoga texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. It is a traditional concept, not a finding of modern anatomy.
The confusion with religion has a specific American cause. Yogi Bhajan began teaching Kundalini Yoga in the United States in 1969, and the 3HO Foundation was incorporated in California that July, according to Sikh Dharma International, the religious organization he also founded. So one well-known Kundalini organization is closely tied to a religion body.
The practice and the organization are still two different things. If chanting worries you, ask what a Kundalini class includes before you sign up.
What Have US Courts and Governments Said About Yoga and Religion?
A California appeals court that examined school yoga classes found they were not religious, and the United Nations treats yoga as a practice for health and well-being. Four decisions are worth knowing.
| Year | Body | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | State of Alabama | Lifted a 1993 ban on yoga in public schools, while still barring chanting and the Namaste greeting (NPR, via KUOW) |
| 2016 | UNESCO | Inscribed yoga on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| 2015 | California Court of Appeal, Sedlock v. Baird | Ruled that a public school yoga program in Encinitas did not violate the California Constitution’s ban on establishing religion |
| 2014 | United Nations General Assembly | Proclaimed June 21 the International Day of Yoga through resolution 69/131. The United Nations says a record 175 member states endorsed the proposal |
Remember the Encinitas parents from the top of this guide? Here’s how their case ended. On April 3, 2015, a three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal ruled against them, 3 to 0.
The court upheld the trial judge’s finding that the classes were “devoid of any religious, mystical, or spiritual trappings” (Sedlock v. Baird, Fourth District, 2015).
The judges were careful, though. They acknowledged that yoga can be religious in other settings. Their ruling was about how yoga was taught in those classrooms, and it is a California decision, not a national rule.
Is Yoga Allowed in US Public Schools?
In general, yes, when yoga is taught as exercise and wellness without religious content. That is the line the California court drew in Sedlock v. Baird. Rules differ by state and school district, so a parent with concerns should ask the school for its curriculum.
Alabama shows how one state handled it. The state banned yoga in public schools in 1993 and lifted the ban in 2021. The 2021 law still bars chanting, mantras, and the Namaste greeting, and it requires English names for the poses, as NPR reported.
Put the two side by side and a pattern shows up. California’s judges and Alabama’s lawmakers drew a similar line. Movement and breathing were allowed. Devotional elements were kept out.
Who Practices Yoga Today?
Yoga today is practiced by people of every faith and of none, and survey data from both the United States and India shows it.
How Many Americans Practice Yoga?
About one in six American adults practices yoga. In 2022, 16.9% of US adults had practiced yoga in the past 12 months, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (Data Brief No. 501, June 2024). The same report found:
- 23.3% of women and 10.3% of men practiced yoga.
- Adults ages 18 to 44 had the highest rate, at 21.3%.
- 80.0% of practitioners did yoga to restore their overall health.
- 57.4% practiced meditation as part of their yoga.
Those numbers describe a health habit. One American adult in six has not changed religions.
Who Practices Yoga in India?
In India, people of every major religion practice yoga, and Hindus aren’t the group most likely to do so. Pew Research Center surveyed 29,999 Indian adults for its 2021 report “Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation.” About a third of Indians, 35%, said they ever practice yoga.
| Religious Group in India | Share Who Ever Practice Yoga |
|---|---|
| Jains | 61% |
| Sikhs | 50% |
| Buddhists | 38% |
| Hindus | 36% |
| Muslims | 29% |
| Christians | 24% |
Source: Pew Research Center, July 2021. The Jain figure rests on a small sample of 109 respondents.
If yoga were only a Hindu religious rite, this pattern would be hard to explain. Sikhs practice yoga more often than Hindus do, and close to three in ten Indian Muslims practice it too.
What Do Different Faiths Say About Yoga?
Faith traditions differ on yoga, and the disagreements usually center on its devotional and meditative elements, not on stretching. Views vary inside every religion, so treat the table below as a summary of public positions. If you’re unsure, your own pastor, priest, imam, or rabbi is the right person to ask.
| Tradition | Public Position on Yoga |
|---|---|
| Hinduism | Classical Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. The Hindu American Foundation asks that these roots be acknowledged and calls yoga appropriate for everyone |
| Buddhism and Jainism | Both have their own yogic and meditative traditions, which India’s Common Yoga Protocol lists as Bouddha Yoga and Jain Yoga |
| Catholic Christianity | A 1989 Vatican letter cautions against merging Eastern meditation methods with Christian prayer, without dismissing those methods altogether |
| Orthodox Christianity (Greece) | The Holy Synod declared yoga incompatible with the Orthodox faith in 2020 |
| Islam | Divided. Fatwa councils in Malaysia and Indonesia ruled against yoga that includes chanting and ritual, while survey data shows that many Muslims in India practice yoga |
Is Yoga Against Christianity?
Yoga is not against Christianity as a matter of settled doctrine, because Christian churches have never reached one verdict. On yoga and Christianity, official statements run from caution to outright rejection.
- The Catholic Church addressed the subject in its 1989 Letter to the Bishops on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation. The letter lists yoga among the Eastern meditation methods it discusses. It warns that blending them with Christian meditation carries real risks. It also says they need not be dismissed just because they come from outside Christianity.
- The Orthodox Church of Greece took the strictest line. In June 2020, its Holy Synod said yoga is “absolutely incompatible” with the Orthodox Christian faith, as BBC News reported.
Notice what both statements are about. They deal with prayer and worship. Neither one is really about stretching. Practical guidance for Christians who want to practice is in the FAQ below.
Can Christians Say Namaste?
Yes. Namaste is a common greeting in India. It comes from Sanskrit and means, roughly, “I bow to you.” As a greeting, it is closer to a handshake than to a prayer.
Some yoga teachers add a spiritual gloss, such as “the divine in me honors the divine in you.” That wording is an interpretation, and it’s the part some Christians object to. If it makes you uneasy, a simple “thank you” works just as well.
What Religions Do Not Allow Yoga?
No major religion bans yoga for all of its followers worldwide. A small number of religious authorities have ruled against yoga, and their reasons center on chanting, ritual, and worship.
| Year | Authority | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece | Declared yoga incompatible with the Orthodox Christian faith (BBC News, June 2020) |
| 2009 | Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) | Forbade Muslims from practicing yoga that includes religious rituals such as chanting, and allowed yoga for exercise (Time, 2009) |
| 2008 | National Fatwa Council of Malaysia | Issued an edict against yoga for Muslims, citing elements of Hinduism such as chanting and worship. Such edicts are not legally binding unless adopted into law (NBC News, 2008) |
None of these rulings binds believers elsewhere. A Greek Orthodox statement does not speak for American Catholics or Protestants, and a Malaysian edict does not speak for Muslims in other countries.
Yoga vs. Religion: What Is the Difference?
The difference between yoga and religion is that a religion asks what you believe, while yoga asks what you practice. The table compares the two on features commonly associated with organized religion. It is a general guide, and both yoga traditions and religions vary.
| Feature | Yoga | Organized Religion |
|---|---|---|
| Main aim | A steady mind, self-knowledge, and freedom from suffering | Salvation or a right relationship with God, as each faith defines it |
| Belief required | No creed is required to practice | Usually a creed or core doctrine |
| Deity | Optional. Ishvara is offered as one aid to concentration | Usually central |
| Scripture | Guiding texts such as the Yoga Sutras, used as manuals | Sacred, authoritative scripture |
| Membership | None. No conversion and no rite of entry | Defined membership, often with a rite of entry |
| Clergy | Teachers, with no power to admit or expel | Often ordained priests, ministers, rabbis, or imams |
| Worship | Optional devotional paths such as Bhakti Yoga | Regular communal worship |
| Other faiths | Can be practiced alongside another faith | Varies by tradition |
One caution keeps this comparison honest. “Religion” is a Western category, and Indian traditions don’t always fit it neatly. The stated goal of classical yoga is liberation, and that is a spiritual goal.
So yoga isn’t a religion. It isn’t just gymnastics either.
Which Parts of a Yoga Class Have Religious Roots?
Most of what happens in a typical yoga class is physical or mental training, and the elements with devotional roots are optional. The table below takes a class apart so you can judge each element on its own terms. Classes differ, so use it as a guide and ask your teacher what a session includes.
| Element | What It Is | Devotional Roots? | Can You Skip It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asana (postures) | Physical positions for strength, mobility, and steadiness | No | Not a faith issue |
| Pranayama (breathing) | Regulated breathing | No | Not a faith issue |
| Dhyana (meditation) | Training attention on the breath or a single point | No deity required | Not a faith issue |
| Yama and Niyama | Ethical guidelines such as non-violence and truthfulness | Ethical, not creedal | They are guidance, not vows |
| Sanskrit pose names | The traditional language of yoga texts | No. Sanskrit is a language | Yes. English names work |
| Namaste | A common Indian greeting that means “I bow to you” | Cultural courtesy | Yes. A nod or a thank-you is fine |
| Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) | A flowing sequence of postures | Devotional for some, exercise for others | You can do it as pure movement |
| Om | A syllable sacred in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions | Yes | Yes. Sit quietly instead |
| Mantras to a deity, puja | Devotional chanting and ritual, part of Bhakti Yoga | Yes | Yes, always |
The takeaway: if you practice postures, breathing, and quiet sitting, you have done nothing that belongs to any one religion.
What Are the Benefits of Yoga, Whatever Your Faith?
The benefits of yoga are physical and mental, and none of them depend on what you believe. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the US National Institutes of Health, sums up the research this way: yoga may ease stress, encourage healthier habits, and help with mood, sleep, and balance. It may also bring a small improvement in low-back pain (NCCIH, Yoga: Effectiveness and Safety).
The word “may” matters here. NCCIH describes the benefit for low-back pain as slight, and the evidence for many other conditions is mixed or preliminary. Yoga is not a cure for any disease, and it should not replace care from your doctor.
For this article’s question, one point stands out. None of the outcomes NCCIH describes requires a belief. Stress, sleep, and balance are not matters of doctrine.
Is Yoga Safe for Everyone?
Not automatically. NCCIH says yoga is generally seen as safe for healthy people who practice it properly. As with any physical activity, injuries can happen.
NCCIH advises anyone who is pregnant, older, or living with a health condition to check with a health care provider and to tell the yoga instructor. If that describes you, have that conversation before your first class. Conditions worth raising include high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, a heart condition, and any recent injury or surgery. Tell the teacher too, and stop if something hurts.
How Can You Practice Yoga Alongside Your Own Faith?
You can practice yoga alongside your own faith by choosing the class, the elements, and the intention that fit your beliefs. Run through this checklist before your first session.
- Ask before you book. Does the class include chanting or mantras? A good teacher will tell you plainly.
- Choose the style. Classes described as Hatha, Iyengar, or restorative are often built around posture. Bhakti and Kundalini classes often involve chanting.
- Set your own intention. Dedicate your practice to health, to gratitude, or to God as you understand God.
- Skip what doesn’t fit. Sit quietly through Om. Answer Namaste with a nod.
- Fill the silence your own way. You can pray in your own tradition during the closing rest.
- Learn the roots. Knowing where yoga comes from is a form of respect. It isn’t conversion.
- Talk to your faith leader if doubt remains. A five-minute conversation beats months of worry.
What Does This Look Like in Real Life?
Imagine three ordinary situations and one sensible way to handle each. These are illustrations, not accounts of real people.
- A churchgoer joining a class at her gym. She asks the instructor up front whether there’s any chanting. There isn’t. She uses the final rest to pray silently.
- A Muslim office worker in a lunchtime wellness session. He does the stretches and the breathing, then sits out the closing Om.
- A parent whose child has yoga in PE. She asks the school for the lesson plan. A program like the one the California court reviewed covers poses, breathing, and quiet time, and nothing devotional.
None of the three gave anything up. Each one simply chose.
How Does Inteyoga Teach Yoga?
Inteyoga (Swami Krishnananda Yoga Vidyapeeth) teaches yoga through structured teacher training in Colva, South Goa, and its published teaching presents four classical paths of yoga side by side. On its website, Inteyoga describes Raja Yoga as a study of the mind, Jnana Yoga as self-inquiry, Karma Yoga as action without attachment, and Bhakti Yoga as devotion. Devotion is one path among the four.
Inteyoga is managed by Inteyoga Shala LLP and is registered with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga School (RYS 200, RYS 300, and RYS 500).
Founder-Director: Dr. Ashutosh, MBBS, M.Sc. (Yoga), Yoga Master Level 6 (Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India), Swami Krishnananda Yoga Vidyapeeth and Inteyoga, Colva, South Goa.
The school’s current advanced course is the Advanced TTC 300-Hour Integrated Restorative Yoga (Including Yoga Nidra, Chakra Sadhana, and Prana Vidya Intensive). It is a residential, advanced yoga teacher training program taught in English. It is not a beginner retreat.
- Duration: 43 training days plus 1 arrival day and 1 departure day (43+2 days, 45 days in total)
- Eligibility: a completed 200-hour yoga teacher training course (TTC 200) or an equivalent yoga teacher training qualification
- Age: 21 to 60 years
- Gift-it-Forward: there is no payment required to apply and no payment required to participate. After completing the program, participants may voluntarily support the Gift-it-Forward initiative to help future aspirants. There is no obligation to contribute.
Batch dates and full details are on the advanced 300-hour program page. The next 200-hour program is planned for approximately mid-2027. Common questions are answered on the Inteyoga FAQ page.
So, Is Yoga a Religion? The Bottom Line
Is yoga a religion? No. Yoga is a discipline with spiritual roots in India. It asks you to practice, and it doesn’t ask you to believe anything first. A California appeals court, the United Nations, and India’s own government have each described yoga in terms that fit that answer.
The numbers point the same way. One in six American adults practices yoga, mostly for health. In India, the practice crosses every religious line.
What you bring to the mat decides the rest. Practice for a healthy back, and yoga is exercise. Practice as an offering, and it becomes devotion. Plenty of people land somewhere in between.
That choice has always been yours.
If you already hold a 200-hour qualification and want to study yoga further in India, read about Inteyoga’s advanced 300-hour program in Goa or use the application form. For questions, email info@inteyoga.org or send a WhatsApp message to +91 935-473-7240.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yoga and Religion
Is It Okay for Christians to Do Yoga?
Christian opinion is divided, so the answer depends on your church. The Catholic Church’s 1989 letter cautions against blending Eastern meditation methods with Christian prayer, while the Orthodox Church of Greece rejects yoga outright. Christians who practice often choose posture-based classes, skip the chanting, and pray in their own tradition. If you’re unsure, talk to your pastor or priest.
Is Yoga a Sin?
There is no single Christian answer. The 1989 Vatican letter does not call yoga postures sinful. Its concern is that Eastern methods could replace or reshape Christian prayer. The Orthodox Church of Greece, by contrast, says yoga has no place in a Christian’s life. Whether a practice is sinful is a question for your own tradition’s teaching, so ask your pastor or priest.
What Did Pope Francis Say About Yoga?
In a homily on January 9, 2015, Pope Francis said that courses in yoga, Zen, or even catechism cannot by themselves open a person’s heart to God, and that only the Holy Spirit can. He did not issue a ban on yoga for Catholics. He named yoga alongside Church classes as something that cannot replace faith (National Catholic Reporter, 2015).
Did Jesus Practice Yoga?
There is no reliable historical evidence that Jesus practiced yoga. The Gospels do not mention yoga. Some Christians see a resemblance between yogic stillness and Christian contemplative prayer, but a resemblance is not a historical link. Claims that go further than the sources should be treated with caution.
What Religion Is Yoga Associated With?
Yoga is associated most closely with Hinduism, and also with Buddhism and Jainism. All three traditions grew in ancient India. Classical Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. Even so, the Government of India’s own account says yoga does not adhere to any particular religion, and survey data shows that people of every major faith in India practice it.
Is Yoga a Form of Hindu Worship?
Yoga is a form of Hindu worship only when the practitioner intends it as worship. Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion, is worship by design. Postures, breathing, and meditation are not worship in themselves. In Sedlock v. Baird in 2015, the California Court of Appeal found nothing religious in the way one school district taught yoga.
Can Muslims Practice Yoga?
Muslim opinion is divided. In India, 29% of Muslims say they practice yoga (Pew Research Center, 2021). Fatwa councils in Malaysia in 2008 and Indonesia in 2009 ruled against yoga that includes chanting and ritual, and the Indonesian ruling allowed yoga practiced for exercise. If you’re unsure, ask a scholar you trust.
Do I Have to Chant Om or Say Namaste in a Yoga Class?
No. You can practice yoga without chanting Om or saying Namaste. Om is a sacred syllable in several Indian traditions, and Namaste is a common Indian greeting. You can sit quietly during a chant and answer Namaste with a nod. Let the teacher know before class if you’d rather not join in.