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Parents in California plan to sue over yoga classes which are due to be introduced into schools in January.
The Encinitas Union School District plans to introduce yoga classes in all their schools after the Christmas vacation, this is despite protests from Christian parents who say their children will be indoctrinated into an Eastern Religion.
Yoga has it’s roots in Hinduism, but school officials have said there will be no chanting, prayer positions or cultural references. In an attempt to stop legal action the yoga teachers have changed the names of the positions to terms like “aeroplane” and “pancake”.
Encinitas Superintendent Timothy Baird said: “This is 21st century PE. It’s physical. It’s strength-building. It increases flexibility but it also deals with stress reduction and focusing, which kickball doesn’t do.”
The Universities of San Diego and Virginia will be studying the students to see what impact the yoga classes have on the children. The program will be given to 5000 children, starting from Kindergarten.