Thousands of Malaysians flexed their bodies and millions across the world stretched their muscles on International Yoga Day, yesterday.

The magnitude of yoga’s renaissance in the modern world for good health and well-being was not endorsed by many countries, including Malaysia.

Regrettably, Malaysia, promoted as a moderate Muslim nation, was not in favour of the resolution in the United Nations for an International Day of Yoga in December last year.

According to media reports, Malaysia’s no-show in the UN vote could be due to the lingering after-effect of the 2008 edict of the National Fatwa Council banning the practice of yoga by Muslims.

The 83rd muzakarah (conference) of the fatwa committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia held in October 2008 discussed the status of Yoga exercises by Muslims.

The Islamic Religious Affairs Department at the conference then decided: 'Yoga exercises originate from the Hindu communities since the ancient Before Christ (BC) era and they combine physical practices with religious elements, incantations and worship to attain certain objectives such as peace and, at its apex, union with God or for other reasons and is not appropriate and can damage the creed of a Muslim'.

Conversely, a majority of the Muslim countries supported India’s resolution - 46 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including Iran and Gulf countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The other countries with similar strong religious ideology that kept out were Brunei, Mauritania and Cameroon.

International Yoga day events were held in 192 countries, including in the Arab world.

In Hollywood, celebrities such as Madonna, Beyonce Knowles, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron and Robert Downey Jr practise yoga regularly.

Many of them have found solace and good health in this ancient discipline and have inspired their fans to follow in their footsteps.

India’s ancient discipline of yoga united people across the world yesterday, cutting across religion, borders and differences, as more than 200 million people took part in events to mark the inaugural International Yoga Day.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an ardent proponent of yoga, also took part, with 37,000 pink, blue and other coloured mats being laid along the Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi.

No reference to origins in Hinduism

Interestingly, at the Indian cultural centre in Kuala Lumpur, most of the students at the yoga classes are of Chinese or Indian origin and none from the Malay majority.

Incidentally, the resolution on yoga had been framed to highlight its health benefits, with no reference to its origins in Hinduism.

North Korea also did not become a co-sponsor of the UN resolution for International Yoga Day.

In addition, Estonia, Namibia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Monaco, Solomon Islands and Zambia also did not join the 177 co-sponsors, probably for internal technical reasons.

Expressing delight at the response shown by countries across the world for International Yoga Day, Indian Prime Minister Modi said the event had brought the hearts and minds of the people together.

M KRISHNAMOORTHY participated with his family on International Yoga Day. He has been practising yoga for more than 40 years.