Yoga in Schools–What’s the Big DEAL?
Monday 27 May 2013 | 12:09 am | Laurette WillisWhat’s the BIG $500,000 DEAL about yoga sponsored by a grant from Ashtanga yoga’s Jois Foundation in Encinitas, CA schools?
And what’s the BIG DEAL with parents suing their California School District over it?
Religion in Public Schools? Yoga? Really?
At right is the FORMER home page of the Jois Foundation (screen shot taken 10/23/12). If you go to the website now, you will see a VERY different picture.
The light green lettering reads:
“Founded 2008, in loving dedication to Guruji, Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, whose Asthanga Yoga teachings have catalyzed a worldwide revival of yoga.” Page identifier–“About Jois: Ashtanga Yoga in the Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji)”
At right is the current home page screen shot of Jois Foundation (5/26/13).
You can read my background posts about this case HERE.
Is yoga religious?
Professor Subhas Tiwari of Hindu University of America. “The simple, immutable fact is that yoga originated from the Vedic or Hindu culture. Its techniques were not adopted by Hinduism, but originated from it… The effort to separate yoga from Hinduism must be challenged because it runs counter to the fundamental principles upon which yoga itself is premised…
“Efforts to separate yoga from its spiritual center reveal ignorance of the goal of yoga.“ (HinduismToday.com – 9/1-3/09).
Article below from NBCSanDiego.com
Yoga Lawsuit: Schools Accused of Spreading Gospel
Lawsuit poses the question: yoga is exercise and relaxation but is it also religion?
By R. Stickney | Thursday, May 23, 2013 | Updated 6:55 AM PDT
An instructor testifying in a lawsuit filed over the Encinitas school district’s yoga program demonstrated some basic poses inside a San Diego courtroom Wednesday.
At issue: are yoga poses religious in nature and can schools offer yoga instruction as part of its physical education program without promoting the religion or spirituality behind the practice?
Judge John S. Meyer heard testimony this week regarding Ashtanga yoga and a curriculum established within the Encinitas Union School District where students practice yoga as P.E.
The district established its yoga program with a $500,000 grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation. The hope was that yoga would help the elementary school students focus on studies, keep them calm and may even curb bullying.
All nine schools in the district are currently participating in the program. Read the rest of this entry »































