you need afair amount of flexibility in your back and shoulders- and yes, the pressure on the neck is a bit intense.

I don't put my arms back like that- too ouchy

Devotees of yoga and moderate Muslim groups have criticised the weekend ruling by the government-backed National Fatwa Council, which said that the ancient practice could erode Muslims' faith.

A vociferous Islamic religious leader from the northern state of Perlis, Asri Zainul Abidin, also spoke out against the yoga decision and said Muslims could follow a non-religious version of the popular exercise.

"The fatwa council should not be so rigid and should instead consider allowing Muslims to practise it solely for health benefits instead of issuing a blanket ban on the practice,'' he said.

Sisters in Islam's Norhayati said that the edict also rang "warning bells'' about a "regressive trend'' in Malaysia, where the population is dominated by Muslim Malays, who live alongside ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

"It has been escalating lately and this reflects a larger issue of growing conservatism,'' she said.