An elementary school in Dechantskirchen, Austria will no longer teach yoga in gym classes after a parent complained, it was reported on 13 October.
Ingrid Karner had taught children yoga once a month in gym classes. Karner will no longer teach students yoga poses after a parent contacted the school saying that she did not wish to have her child exposed to the form of exercise for religious reasons.
‘All I heard was that according to the Bible yoga should not be allowed and it would lead the children in the wrong direction’, Karner said.
The gym teacher’s yoga lessons had previously been approved by school administrators. ‘We introduced children’s yoga and concentration exercises into gym classes. I presented the project to the headmistress and the district school inspector in advance and they were both happy with it’, Karner said.
Yoga originated from the spiritual practices of Hinduism and Buddhism. Last year, a judge ruled that a San Diego school district would be able to teach yoga in elementary schools because the poses are not inherently religious.
