Does Your State Allow Yoga in Schools?

Alabama just overturned its 30 year ban on yoga in schools insisting that if we teach yoga we only teach “poses and stretches” and do NOT use any sanskrit, guided meditation or visualization, chanting of the words OM, or use of the word Namaste in any of the classes.

The government steps aside to say the school’s have the final say as to whether or not they allow yoga to be taught in the school system and that the parents must sign a form saying they understand yoga is associated with the Hindu religion.

While we are one step closer to progress in Alabama, I see we have so much further to go. Some in this country believe that yoga is a religion, clearly Alabama sees this as a concern. However, most of the people I know in the western world that practice or teach yoga don’t associate it at all to a religion, but a form of dealing with the stresses and anxiety of daily life (like reading an article like this and not having my head explode.)

It’s unfortunate the government has to rule these decisions as to whether or not we can teach our kids to “stretch” in school, but they clearly misunderstand that yoga is so much more than stretching. In fact, they have failed in this bill to pass the most important parts of teaching yoga as a way of life. Teaching our kids how to be still, to calm and quiet their raging minds, to step away from electronics and simply be present in their bodies, and to find ways to mentally deal with the anxiety’s of growing up I only wish someone had taught me in school. It is only too sad that these government officials as adults have yet to learn these things themselves.

But one day at a time, we as individuals do our best to serve our communities in the all the ways that we can to teach love, kindness, peace, and health to the world. https://www.bbc.com/news/57204355

You may not be allowed to have yoga in school, but did you know I also work with kids? In private or small group settings I can help your children learn to breathe, meditate, move their bodies in safe and healthy ways, and most importantly teach them how to cope with the stress of sports, test taking, anxiety, and much more. Contact me.