Putrajaya (Malaysia), Nov. 22: Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council has declared that yoga practices which involve physical movements, worshipping and chantings are haram (prohibited) in Islam.

The Star reported that the announcement was made on Saturday.

Recently, Professor Zakaria Stapa, a lecturer of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Islamic Studies Centre, advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practicing it for fear that they could deviate from the teachings of Islam.

Yoga, a health-related exercise, has been practiced since 3,000BC and is said to help slow down ageing, reduce risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases. (ANI)