The Encinitas Union School District plans to offer yoga instruction at all of its nine schools from January, despite a protest by parents who say they believe it will indoctrinate their children in Eastern religion. The growing popularity of yoga is forcing US public schools to address the question of whether it is a religious practice or simply exercise.
Encinitas Superintendent Timothy Baird said: “This is 21st century PE. It’s physical. It’s strength-building. It increases flexibility but it also deals with stress reduction and focusing,
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# Encinitas Superintendent Timothy Baird said: “This is 21st century PE. It’s physical. It’s strength-building. It increases flexibility but it also deals with stress reduction and focusing.
# In light of such evidence, it may appear that this question — “Can yoga philosophy be separated from yoga practice?” — has already been answered in the negative. And this is certainly the view of many yoga scholars. Dave Fetcho, formerly of the Ananda Marga Yoga Society, has written, “Physical yoga, according to its classical definitions, is inheritably and functionally incapable of being separated from Eastern religious metaphysics.” What’s more, yoga authorities Feuerstein and Miller, in discussing yoga postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama), indicate that such practices are more than just another form of physical exercise; indeed, they “are psychosomatic exercises.” Does this mean that separating theory from practice is simply impossible with yoga?