you have your balls twisted badly on this one. there was nothing ever religious about yoga. it's just that the various postures have sanskrit terminologies and because it is an Indian body exercise regimen practiced often outdoors - various aspects of the body in relation to nature are included in these terms. however, as the Hindu scriptures are also set down in sanskrit, and the fact yoga evolved uniquely in india, some people have wrongly come to think of it as having Hndu religious roots.
because it has no religious basis, yoga is a very popular and inexpensive body exercise and relaxation regimen in the West.
to say other nations or cultures do not have their own exercise regimens, shows your ignorance. there is tai chi in China, judo in Japan, capoera in Brazil etc, etc.
