A Republican candidate for the lieutenant governorship of Virginia has said that practising yoga might lead to possession by Satan.
EW Jackson, a conservative pastor who has never held elective office, made the remarks in his 2008 book Ten Commandments to an Extraordinary Life: Making Your Dreams Come True.
The passage was highlighted earlier this week by conservative website National Review, which was profiling Jackson.
He wrote: "When one hears the word 'meditation' it conjures an image of Maharishi Yoga talking about finding a mantra and striving for nirvana . The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself . [Satan] is happy to invade the empty vacuum of your soul and possess it."
About 20.4million people are believed to practise yoga in the US alone.
Jackson overcame six opponents last month to win the Republican nomination for elections in November. He became the party's first black nominee for state office in Virginia since 1988.
Earlier this week, Scott Rigell, a Republican member of Congress representing Virginia, said he would not endorse Jackson because of his comments about homosexuality.
Jackson has said homosexuals are "very sick people" and "perverted".
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