Inside the fight to overturn a ban on yoga in Alabama's public schools

[marmar]

(Salon) In early 2019, a high school student asked Alabama state Rep. Jeremy Gray about his daily routine during a talk he was giving at a public high school in his district. The 35-year-old former Division I football player and CFL star said it often includes yoga — at least twice a week.

"As football players and athletes, we do yoga as a way to recover," Gray told Salon.

But his admission also unveiled a surprising truth about the state of Alabama: yoga is banned in public schools. The high schoolers he stood in front of were legally prohibited from having the activity be part of their public school curriculum. The ban, which has been in effect since 1993 and was voted on by the Alabama Board of Education, states: "School personnel shall be prohibited from using any techniques that involve the induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, meditation or yoga."

When Gray, a Democrat from Opelika, learned about the seemingly antiquated ban, he set out to overturn it — introducing Alabama House Bill 246 (HB 246) in the hopes that it would make a positive contribution to his community.

"Yoga is literally everywhere," Gray said. "It's in churches, universities, it's at football practice, basketball practice, the local YMCA, so I didn't really think it was a big deal until I introduced the bill and it was heavily opposed by conservative groups." .............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/04/30/inside-the-fight-to-overturn-a-ban-on-yoga-in-alabamas-public-schools/

[NoMoreRepugs]

1. Afraid of a little competition? (Shaking my head)

[Hugin]

2. Watch how fast they drop it, if the message gets out that banning Yoga toots...

is part of the "Green New Deal".

Suddenly there would be dozens of morbidly overweight Trump drag wearing ingrates contorting themselves on every street corner.

Seriously.

[sop]

3. Yoga is the new Freedom Fries.

[SheltieLover]

4. Do they realize their religion is bs?

Perhaps fearful people will wake up?

[d_r]

5. They want prayer in schools

But ban guided imagery.

[Chainfire]

6. You just can't apply logic to religion

It is like mixing oil and water.

My sister is a retired Alabama school teacher. When she moved there, from Florida, fresh out of college, she was normal. After 50 years living in central Al., she is a maniac, over the top, Trump worshipping, bible-thumping nut. I can't stand to be in her or her husband's presence any more. I can not be around her but that she starts up on politics and religion; they are her life. It appears to me that in Alabama, church and right-wing politics are inseparable, if you believe in one, you have to believe in the other, or be on a sure path to Hell. It is either that, or there is something in the water that strips people of their judgement. The batteries in her bullshit meter died decades ago.

Every 60 days or so she will send me a card, covered on all sides with bible quotations, showing me what a hell-bound sinner I am. I have quit even opening them, they go from the mailbox to the trash can without passing Go or collecting $200.00. All I have left of my sister is old memories of her time B.A.