Bhogal added: 'The best way to practise yoga is through one-to-one interaction, so that communication can be easy and efficient. However, it is not always possible to conduct a one-to-one yoga programme; so in my opinion the ideal ratio between instructor and student would be of 30:2 (one yoga instructor, one assistant and 30 students).'

Bhogal also feels it would not be right to practise yoga through mass media.

'The reason behind it is that these asanas have spiritual value. Though it looks like simple exercise, it is not. The different asanas lead us towards peace,' Bhogal said.

Rachna Rana, an MBA student who has practised yoga through TV, said: 'I was thrilled to see yoga on TV and started practising it every morning, but in a few weeks I got my knee sprained and it took long to recover.'

Yash Gulati, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, said: 'One yoga posture cannot be beneficial for all kinds of people. So it is very important to consult an expert before practising, as the effectiveness of yoga depends on various factors like age, physical condition, etc.'

While Chatterjee admitted that the TV has helped yoga gain popularity, he said: 'TV is distorting the spiritual aspect of yoga and it is not doing any good to people; rather it is causing complications.'

(Nabeel A. Khan can be contacted at nabeel.k@ians.in)