Yoga lawsuit will head to court in May

[SecularMotion]

During a courtroom hearing last week it was decided a lawsuit demanding the end of a school yoga program will be heard May 20.

Two months ago, the Escondido-based National Center for Law and Policy filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking an injunction against the EUSD (Encinitas Union School District) yoga program on the grounds that it violates the establishment clause, or what’s more commonly known as “separation of church and state.”

“I wouldn’t have filed this lawsuit if I didn’t think we would win,” said Broyles, who represents the law center.

As proof of the religious nature of yoga, Broyle’s legal complaint says that parents witnessed students in the district practicing sun salutations — a series of yoga moves and other poses. The complaint asserts the poses are “worshipful.”

http://thecoastnews.com/2013/04/yoga-lawsuit-will-head-to-court-in-may/

[rug]

1. It's important to note what the National Center for Law and Policy is.

It is not a secular group such as AU or FFRF advocating for the separation of church and state. It is very much a rightwing political advocacy group wrapped in religious language and catch phrases.

The National Center for Law & Policy (NCLP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization which focuses on the protection and promotion of religious freedom, the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

The National Center for Law and Policy engages in constitutional litigation in state and federal courts. The National Center is also active in the areas of public policy and education.

Our focus is in the following areas:

• Rights of Students
• Rights of Churches
• Rights in the Work Place
• Religious Land Use
• Rights of Marriage and Family
• Rights of Expression in the Public Square
• Right of Equal Access for Individuals and Groups
• Rights of the Unborn/Protection of Innocent Life

http://www.nclplaw.org/

[struggle4progress]

2. I expect they'll lose. The origins of yoga may be religious, and a number of its practitioners

may indeed couple the physical exercise with various metaphysical beliefs, some of which may reflect old religious roots of yoga and some of which may be new age grafts onto the practice

But yoga can certainly be practiced simply as exercise, and those whose beliefs are offended are entitled to opt out, just as Jehovah's witnesses are entitled to opt out of the Pledge

So I can't see a problem -- unless, of course, EUSD yoga teachers are actively promoting some metaphysics with the exercise, in which case it might become a Church-State separation issue warranting an injunction

[westerebus]

3. Well my favorite pose is Shavasana.

Normally you would end the class with this pose before the instructor gives everybody a Namaste salutation and dismisses the class.
I know about a dozen instructors, none of whom are religious. Quite the contrary, even the opening meditation is simply to sit quietly with your eyes close and put the concerns of the day off your mat.

True, my classes are not in a school setting. Although, the number of folks that practice are for the most part church going and way more red than blue. No body has a problem that I've heard of.

As we say here in Virginia: that dog won't hunt.