In Queens, Clearing a Path Between Yoga and Islam

I discovered whatever I’m doing in yoga, I’m doing five times a day in prayer,” said Mr. Rashid, who is from Dhaka, Bangladesh.        During the daylong yoga class at the festival that Mr. Rashid helped organize in Jackson Heights last summer, classes were halted for salat. Imam Qayyoom and others performed those prayers on their yoga mats.       
It dawned on him then, the imam said, that many Muslims, in a sense, practice yogic postures several times a day. “Maybe they’re getting that same benefit in their prayers,” he said. “Maybe they don’t need to do yoga.”       

• BoredinTexas
• TX

I am a Bangladeshi (born and raised) and this is news to me.  I have never been told that yoga is unislamic or was I ever discouraged from practicing it.  As the article points out, there is no conflict between the two as salat (the 5 -time daily  prayer) is pretty similar to yoga in certain aspects. A practicing muslim therefore may not feel the need to do yoga, but that does not mean he/she has anything against it.

• Vinay
• NJ

Every muslim I met have spoken against Yoga for the sole fact that it's associated with Hinduism. Their stance is not surprising but reinforces the fact that Islam and non-islamic faiths cannot co-exist together.