A controversial new hybrid of yoga and beer-drinking brought a heated row brewing within the yoga industry to a head.

The practice of sipping pints while stretching in various poses has been criticised by yoga purists who labelled the fad “unacceptable” after it appeared two years ago.

Critics labelled “beer yoga” a commercial gimmick which exists for the sole purpose of making money.

“The term yoga has lost it’s meaning and people are using it to make money,” Louise Wallace of the Yoga Alliance Professionals (YAP) told the Times.

“Yoga is a sacred practice that has deep philosophical, spiritual roots. Alcohol is not compatible with it.”

Ms. Wallace said the YAP had sent out a notice to all its members saying it did not condone the practice of drinking and yoga-ing.

Some of the practice’s advocates, however, hit back at the purists’ derision claiming it makes yoga “more accessible to everyone”.

Guzel Mursalimova, 28, who set up one of London’s first beer yoga classes said: “Some people do think mixing the two is unacceptable and I respect their opinion but what I wanted to do is bring something of daily life into the classes to make it seem a bit less scary.

Guzel Mursalimova, 28, who set up one of London’s first beer yoga classes said: “Some people do think mixing the two is unacceptable and I respect their opinion but what I wanted to do is bring something of daily life into the classes to make it seem a bit less scary. The practice sees yoga-fans stretching into various positions while putting away beers

“By combining beer with yoga, it lowers the barrier to come in for the first time.” Ms Mursalimova said as many as 1,200 people attended 50 of her beer yoga classes last June. She attributes her high attendance to the number of men who went, claiming that the addition of beer makes it seem like less of a female-dominated pursuit.

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