So here's a funny story. The Encinitas United School District in California started an in-school yoga program. You know, because it's fun and relaxing and helps kids focus and all that. But some families got their pants all up in a bunch over the whole idea -- because they think yoga is a religious practice, and what about separation of church and state, and now it's time to sue the school district. Yup, a family just filed a lawsuit to stop the yoga classes.
SIGH. I know this isn't the last time I'm going to say this, but here goes: Yoga is not a religion -- certainly not the way it's being practiced in the Encinitas schools, where it's taught as a physical fitness program. Don't these people have better things to do than sue over YOGA?!? Oh my god, this lawsuit is so freakin' stupid, I feel like ... I need to ... OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Okay, I feel a little calmer now. Let's talk about yoga.
1. Yoga is meditation. Meditation is a vehicle. It can lead you to spiritual enlightenment, if that is your goal. Or it can help you focus and relax, if that is your goal. All depends on where you want to go. If you drive your car to church, does that make your car religious? No. It does not.
2. Some yoga is just exercise. This is a little controversial -- I have yoga teacher friends who say it shouldn't be treated as "just" exercise you do at the gym, but that's what it's become in the U.S. You stretch a lot, you breathe, and your body benefits from that. It's a limited use of yoga, but one a lot of people find very effective, physically.
3. You can be a Christian and do yoga. Millions of Christians who do yoga know this. They don't feel like they're worshipping Hindu gods when they do yoga, even if some poses refer to Hindu gods. I bet Jesus would have practiced yoga if he'd known about it.
4. Yoga's spiritual roots have sprung practical uses. True, yoga developed in ancient India as a spiritual practice. And for many practitioners, it still is a spiritual practice. But it's evolved into a multitude of different kinds of practices, many of them completely secular. Some people consider it a form of alternative preventative medicine!
I just think it takes a special kind of Grinch to sue a school district over a phys ed program that helps kids move their bodies, relax, and focus better in class. I'm sure Encinitas is teaching yoga in a completely secular, practical way. And they're going to continue teaching yoga. Kids with intolerant parents can opt out. What's the big deal?
Do you think yoga is a religious practice, or can it also just be exercise?
Image via Carl Lender/Flickr
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Comments 40
LO and I do some light yoga every day for health. I feel my relationship with God is not threatened by Zumba or yoga, and the instructors on my yoga DVDs are strictly fitness motivated. We did receive a yoga DVD that had a lot of chanting, and I donated it to charity. That's just not what I want to hear while I'm stretching and sweating. I prefer to meditate in silence and stillness, not during yoga.
There are so many everyday things in life that are taken from religion... breaking bread with friends, the act of 'unloading' to a therapist and vowing ot make amends for wrongs done (confession in the Catholic Church), and probably a bunch of others that aren't coming to me because it's early. Just because an action gets its start in a religion doesn't make it inherently religious. Yes, a Sun Salutation might be a position in a particular religion, but does that mean that standing tall and stretching your arms toward the sky is ALWAYS the act of saying a Hindu prayer?
If they were doing religiously-themed chants, I'd agree that it's an issue, but simply stretching the same way that is done in the practice of spiritual Yoga? No.
People just need an excuse to act all up in arms about stupid stuff..Why is society becoming so damn sensitve??!
I dont' think kids need to be taught or prompted to meditate or relax. They need to be taught/prompted to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE. Get the heartbeat going!
I think that is one of the cool things about yoga, it can be meditative/relaxing, it can be stretching and flexibility/ strength, and it can be about movement and getting the heart rate up. The ideal practice will take you through asanas fitting all descriptions.
It isn't a religion, but it is a religious practice. This is Hatha Yoga, which focuses on physical health and purity. The very act of doing it is worship, in the Hindu point of view. It is also used in Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Yoga is used as a method to achieve moksha as well as to pray to the god(s).
Meditation is also a form of worship, FYI. You're supposed to meditate while doing yoga.
However they aren't using this in a religious context and probably have taught the children nothing about Hinduism (god forbid they learn about other religions) so the parents are being idiots.