A Catholic priest in Northern Ireland claims that people who practise yoga may be opening themselves up to 'Satan and the fallen angels'.

According to the UK's Independent, Father Roland Colhoun, from Glendermott parish in Derry, says it could lead his flock into "The Kingdom of Darkness", telling the Derry Journal that practitioners risk taking a path towards "the bad spiritual domain" and even "Satan and The Fallen Angels".

"Pope Francis said 'do not seek spiritual answers in yoga classes'. Yoga is certainly a risk. There's the spiritual health risk," He told the journal.

"Practising yoga is Satanic, it leads to evil just like reading Harry Potter" the Vatican’s chief exorcist, Gabriele Amorth told reporters.

He also claimed that it leads to a belief in Hinduism, and that "all eastern religions are based on false belief in reincarnation".

According to CathNews New Zealand, The president of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed views the whole thing as a bit of a stretch, and has called on Pope Francis to take action against the priest.

According to Zed, yoga may have started off as being a Hindu practise, but has since become “a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilised by all”.

And besides, the Catholic Church has books on the subject in the Vatican library.