I agree with the concept but I don't think bureaucrats should dictate it to children.
Eastern mysticism tells you to empty the mind. Christianity tells you to fill it.
Interesting.
Hatha yoga is a physical discipline. Meditation is a mental discipline. (Usually they are referring to vipassana meditation, though there are many different types, some employed by medieval Christian mystics.) Both are *techniques* that can be used to a variety of purposes. If the school system has truly stripped out the religious information that is often packaged with both of these disciplines, then there is no reason in the world it should not be taught in schools. I intend to teach my boys how to meditate when they are old enough. It is a tremendous tool for calming the mind so you can concentrate on what you want to concentrate on, not the thousand and one distractions around you.
While I appreciate those who are concerned with stealth proselytization of children via the public schools, they are wrong in this case. Stripped of its religious overtones, yoga is exercise and nothing more, and I speak as a Catholic who is particularly sensitive to religious propaganda. My wife does yoga and I haven't noticed any loss of devotion to the Lord Jesus on her part.
That being said, it must be pointed out that many of those who practice or teach yoga tend to be muddled suburban syncretics of the "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual" type -- the kind of well-meaning hippies that attempt to homebrew their own religion by mixing bits of Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Kabbalic Judaism, and Christianity with a lot of high-fiber trail mix and a massive bong hit or two. These sorts love to sneak references to "healing light" and "Kundalini energy" into their stretching routines. As long as one keeps a wary eye on "mission creep", yoga is fine.
Yoga doesn't have to include its source religion any more than tai chi does. But football, rugby, boxing and dodgeball would be a lot better for those kids.
And many wonder why education costs keep skyrocketing.
They could be doing worse in public schools. I love yoga. It's good for the body and it's great relaxation. David Hunt needs to lighten up. Years of Catholic church bashing makes one crotchety though. He needs the lotus pose I think.
I can see it now: "Now I learn my Ooohms..."
"bunny slippers and time in"
Teachers say it helps calm students with attention-deficit disorder and may reduce childhood obesity.
So, to improve standardized testing, my kids are supposed to indulge in "bunny slippers" and "time in?" Pulleaze. Funny how the teachers say it may help with ADD and being fat, but nothing about improving test scores. Yet, in Tara's *ideal world*, everybody would have to meditate before tests, because doing so helps the fat kids and the ADD kids. A fine example of mission creep for sure.
Yoga is designed to open up specific subtle pathways in the body. It should not be performed as a one size fits all form of fitness. While it can be adapted to an individual's particular religious orientation, it should not be done without the guidance of a trained master.
These hippies are playing with fire, literally. Some of these kids could get very screwed up physically. Yoga is a form of medicine on the subtle, energetic level.
"Portrayed as a New Age nut out to brainwash young minds'
Yeah, pretty much.
Yoga is from eastern religion. And very dangerous.
Whut in the name of lordy god frick is "foreign religion"?
Yoga as a religion?
Geeze where to they find these people?!
You can teach Yoga without the alleged religious overtones.
being more bendy and flexible is not religious. It is just fun and useful.
And there is the rub. Is this even possible.
Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing on meditation. In India, Yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga (see Yoga as exercise).
Yoga as a means of spiritual attainment is central to Hinduism (including Vedanta), Buddhism and Jainism and has influenced other religious and spiritual practices throughout the world. Hindu texts establishing the basis for yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and many others.
And here I thought Public Schools were not supposed to push any religion, however well intentioned.