Yoga Classes in Encinitas Schools Causing a problem

 

Letters: Yoga classes in Encinitas schools posing a problem

• 
• Comments

  0

• Email

  Share

Yoga teacher Jackie Bergeron works with students at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School in Encinitas. Students attend two 40-minute yoga classes each week. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union Tribune / Zuma Press / October 18, 2012)

• Also
• Parents view yoga in elementary school as religious indoctrination
• Submit a Letter to the Editor
• Blowback: Readers take on The Times
• The Reply: Opinion writers respond to reader comments and letters

Ads by Google

November 8, 2012, 4:29 p.m.

Re “Parents distressed by yoga,” Nov. 7

The parents of children in the Encinitas schools who are concerned about the dangers of religious indoctrination resulting from the introduction of a yoga curriculum shouldn't worry too much. The acceptance of soccer, volleyball and even lacrosse in schools has caused some students to stray from the baseball, basketball and football religions, but — come playoff season — they'll be back.

John Hennessy
Culver City

As a person of faith but not a Christian, I need to get this straight:

Those with “Christian values” have no problem with Christian prayers before and after football games, school sport banners with biblical sayings, Christian invocations at Little League games, Christmas pageants at public schools, the Ten Commandments at courthouses and crosses everywhere to commemorate everybody and everything.

Now we have yoga in Encinitas schools and the world is somehow coming to an end?

My children were told throughout their school years to “just sit out” any of the Christian events that were contrary to their religious beliefs. These parents need to do the same.

Marc Lebovitz
Newport Beach

I hope the parents in Encinitas who fear that yoga is bringing in Eastern mysticism eschew their Christmas trees, mistletoe and Easter eggs when they realize that those are holdovers from pagan rites.

I also can't help wondering if, among the new names for poses, there isn't one called “foolish doofus”?

Terry Snyder
Los Angeles

I laughed out loud when I read the headline on this story about the hoopla over the yoga program in Encinitas. I can easily clear up attorney Dean Broyles' confusion and misunderstanding that “yoga poses ... are, at their base, prayers to Hindu deities.”

I've taken yoga classes for years, and a prayer has never been said, a belief system never espoused. Yoga is a practice, not a religion. Namaste.

Penny Peyser
Woodland Hills

end quote from:
Letters: Yoga classes in Encinitas schools posing a problem

Though almost everywhere on earth there is a diverse cultural situation most people in California should know that Hatha Yoga is mostly about stretching muscles to prevent pulled muscles. In fact, Professional Basketball players usually spend about 5 of their training hours a day stretching to prevent strains and pulls so they can function at peak physical states while playing basketball games. I think the biggest problem might be an out of shape child doing something and stretching too far too fast and pulling a muscle and injuring themself. But, just like Accu-puncture, Yoga is about health and not really about religion. So, it would be like getting mad for Chiropractors coming into school and adjusting children's backs. Or it would be like getting mad because Osteopaths came to school to practice their medicine there as well. Because yoga is not really religious in nature it is more about health. (At least the way it is practiced in the U.S. and Europe).