Parents, look into use of Hindu-based ‘exercise’ program in schools

To The Daily Sun,

When I read the article in the April 19 edition of The Sun about children being taught yoga at Pleasant St. School, I was very concerned. If I were a parent of a child in this school, I would ask a lot of questions of the school. For example, ask why religions like Christianity and Judaism are not allowed to be practiced on school grounds, but a Hindu religion-based exercise program is? Ask if the yoga teacher or the school administrators are aware of the possible effects of meditation, yogic breathing and postures on the minds and spirits of young children? Do they know if practicing yoga can possibly cause or aggravate an already existing medical condition or emotional illness a child may have? Will the school district be held accountable if something goes wrong with the use of yoga in the school?

I did a little research myself into yoga and it is worth it for parents to look into this before allowing anyone to teach this religion presented as “exercise” to your child. There are all kinds of people out there practicing all kinds of forms of yoga, even “Christian” yoga, so take the time to find out for yourself if a yoga class is really just exercise, and what is actually being taught by any given yoga teacher.

Online, I found this quote from the managing editor of “Hinduism Today.” He said, “Hinduism is the soul of yoga, based as it is on Hindu scripture and developed by Hindu sages. Yoga opens up new and more refined states of mind, and to understand them one needs to believe in and understand the Hindu way of looking at God.”

Is this enough to show you yoga is a religion, not an exercise program? If not, please look into this for yourself, and maybe you might question if this curriculum is really best for your child.

Doris Morrissette

Laconia