Stop misleading people on yoga

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and free to express it. The problem arises when incomplete information is presented without context, creating a misleading picture of reality. One of the main claims being circulated relies on old reports stating that India’s Ministry of Sports declared that yoga was “not a sport.” What is often omitted is the reason behind that classification. The discussion was not about whether yoga was a religion. Rather, it concerned whether yoga should be categorized as a competitive sport involving tournaments, medals, rankings, and sporting federations. The debate was administrative in nature, not theological. Moreover, the argument relies on outdated information.

In 2020, the Government of India formally recognized Yogasana as a competitive sport and subsequently incorporated it into national sporting competitions and youth games. Yogasana is a competitive discipline in which participants are judged on the precision, balance, flexibility, and execution of specific yoga postures, much like gymnastics evaluates athletic performance through structured routines. Therefore, presenting old headlines without acknowledging later developments does not provide readers with the full picture.

Critics have also pointed to a social media post from India’s Ministry of Ayush that describes Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) as a way of expressing gratitude to the sun. However, citing a single post in isolation does not justify portraying all yoga activities as religious ceremonies. Yoga is practiced today by millions of people around the world for physical fitness, flexibility, breathing techniques, and overall well-being.

More importantly, there is no evidence that participants at the Kuwait event were asked to worship the sun, perform a religious ritual, or adopt any religious belief. The event was publicly promoted as a health and wellness activity under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” and that is exactly what those in attendance experienced. Equally concerning was the false claim that participants gathered in a public garden at noon to pray and give gratitude to the sun.

In reality, the event took place at 5:00 a.m., as publicly announced beforehand. Those in attendance participated in a health and wellness activity, not a religious ceremony. Anyone present can confirm this. It is also worth noting that many Muslims around the world participate in yoga purely as a form of exercise, much as people engage in activities that may have originated in different cultures without adopting the religious beliefs associated with those cultures.

Stretching exercises, breathing techniques, and wellness practices do not automatically become acts of worship. Healthy societies thrive on discussion and debate. However, honest debate requires facts, context, and intellectual integrity. Taking old headlines out of context, ignoring relevant details, and presenting personal interpretations as established facts does little to inform the public.

People are free to practice yoga or not practice yoga. They are free to support it or criticize it. But public discussions should be based on what actually happened, not on assumptions, selective quotations, or narratives designed to create unnecessary division. In an age where misinformation spreads faster than facts, the responsibility to verify information before sharing it has never been more important.