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Public schools embrace spiritually stripped yoga

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 29, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO - In Tara Guber's ideal world, American children would meditate in the lotus position and chant in Sanskrit before taking stressful standardized tests.

But when she asked a public elementary school in Aspen, Colo., to teach yoga in 2002, some parents lobbied the school board. They said yoga's Hindu roots conflicted with Christian teachings and using it in school might violate the separation of church and state.

So Guber crafted a new curriculum that eliminated chanting and translated Sanskrit into kid-friendly English. Yogic panting became "bunny breathing," and "meditation" became "time in."

Now, more than 100 schools in 26 states have adopted Guber's Yoga Ed. program. Numersou other public and private schools across the country - including the Aspen school - are teaching yoga.

But yoga in public schools remains touchy. Critics say even stripped-down "yoga lite" goads young people into exploring other religions and mysticism. Dave Hunt, author of Yoga and the Body of Christ: What Position Should Christians Hold?, said that, like other religions, the practice has no place in public schools.

"Yoga is a religious practice in Hinduism. It's the way to reach enlightenment. To bring it to the west and bill it as a scientific practice for fitness is dishonest," said Hunt, 80.

Some yogis say yoga as it's practiced in the U.S. is primarily about fitness and stress relief.

Baron Baptiste, who owns three studios in the Boston area, said he loves Guber's program.

"We adults need to be reminded to lighten up, breathe in the joy and have some fun," he said.

[Last modified January 29, 2007, 00:59:06]