Religon and Yoga

Before I started yoga I wondered how that would fit into my religious life. I am very religious and my beliefs run deep, how would yoga interfere with my belief system? I didn't want to "worship" an idol such as Buddha, I didn't want to do any weird chants, masked as praying to said Buddha.
Luckily for me my fears were not fact based. Yoga is not a religion! It is a form of exercise that brings together the mind, body and spirit to make oneself better. (that is my own definition) There are aspects of yoga that reach our spiritual side and that in of itself might be considered a practice in religion, and for some the practice of yoga is "their" religion. For me I find that it strengthens my own religious beliefs.
How does it do this? My mind is usually running from one thought to the next trying hard to focus on the good thoughts without letting the negative thoughts run wild. When I am at yoga it takes all my brain effort to concentrate on the pose I am trying to do. I found out about 6 months into practicing yoga that I really do well if I can focus on the instructor's voice and not let anything else enter my mind. So for 75 minutes my mind is focused on my body, and on making the most out of every single pose. I can feel the minute my mind wanders, I fall out of a pose or I miss an instruction and get left behind. I can come to yoga with things weighing heavy on  my mind and spirit and by focusing on just me for a little while I seem to gain clarity of whatever the situation.
When I pray, which I do several times during the day, I more often than not do not take the time to stop and listen. While on the yoga mat at the end of a workout, I have received many answers to prayers because I am lying perfectly still, my mind is calm and I am ready to listen.
Yoga also incorporates meditation, compassion for self and others, non-judgement, these virtues can also be found in religions as well, and for me the more I can practice the good the better.  Yoga is not a religion, it doesn't change or interfere with my religious beliefs, when I realized this I was able to embrace yoga for the healthy benefits that it brings to my mind and body.