Why is it so hard to get yoga into schools?
In the United States, yoga in schools is a fraught topic. Laws — mostly old and some new — have made it almost impossible to get yoga into public schools. In other cases, lawsuits and internal pressure have booted yoga programs out the door. What’s behind these efforts? A combination of parents and religious-backed interest groups fearful of yoga’s spiritual origins. Sure, the parents may mean well. But good intentions can still cause harm. And good intentions, when unpacked, often reveal deep and complex biases: prejudice against non-white countries, racism toward non-white practices, and stereotypical views of ancient, Eastern philosophies. Let’s unpack some of the myths that motivate parents, lawmakers, and other stakeholders to prohibit the practice of yoga in public schools.
Myth #1: Yoga is a Religion
Truth: Yoga is not a religion. The actual origins of yoga are subject to a great deal of debate, but a commonly accepted belief is that yoga originated around 5,000 BCE in the Indian subcontinent, including regions of northwestern India and Pakistan (bear in mind that the geography and borders of modern-day India are relatively new, all things considered, and directly tied to British colonization and its aftermath). This means that yoga shares a common history, geography, people, and language as other world religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. It also means that yoga philosophy intersects with these religions and draws upon images and characters among them. That said, yoga does not have a deity — and therefore, there is no “worship.” No deity, no religion.
It’s worth noting this, though: many Hindus and Buddhists practice yoga as part of their religion. For them, secularization is offensive. And that’s a fair point — to make an analogy to the misuse of sacred practices in Christianity, it’s like when Madonna wore crucifixes for fashion. Offensive! And this reveals a significant question: Is the secular practice of yoga a form of appropriation that actually harms the marginalized (in this case Hindu/Buddhist communities) more than those who oppose it? Is this a good reason to oppose yoga in schools? Think on that.
Myth #2: Yoga Encourages Self-Worship/Idolatry
Truth: Yoga encourages self-study — in fact, purposeful self-reflection (svadhyaya) is a pillar of yoga’s ethical precepts. However, in public debates around yoga in schools, the word “Namaste” has been weaponized as proof that yoga is a form of self-worship. The term — often (mis)translated as “The divine/light in me bows to the divine/light in you” — actually means “greetings to you” and is typically directed toward elders. YES, it is a term that shows up in the Vedas (canonical literature of Hinduism) and YES, in that context it is religious (often directed toward a diety), but Namaste, as used by most native Hindi speakers, is a simple greeting. Many words we use today have religious roots (think: adios, inshallah and goodbye — an abbreviation of "God be with ye"), but their common use is simply that — common, colloquial.
Myth #3: Yoga Promotes a Non-Christian Belief System
Truth: Yoga promotes moral and ethical precepts that are not only shared with, but actually endorsed by Christianity and nearly all other world religions. In fact, yoga’s moral and ethical precepts (a set of 10 abstentions and observances collectively known as the yama and niyama) actually reinforce many of the teachings of Jesus Christ. The list includes, but is not limited to: non-violence, non-greed, non-stealing, truthfulness, contentment, discipline, and surrender to a higher power. To be clear: Yoga does not recognize any specific deity, so NO, it does not promote surrender to Jesus Christ per se. But the foundations of yoga philosophy are built upon many of the same core values of Christianity — and most other world religions, philosophies, and systems of secular belief. (And psst — for what it’s worth, there’s an extremely profitable branch of yoga devoted entirely to making it a Christian practice, so from a theological and consumer Christian perspective — the verdict is out on whether it’s, errr, kosher).
Myth #4: Yoga is a Poor Use of Public Funding
Truth: Blanket statements are rarely accurate. Yoga yields innumerable benefits to kids, so let’s just look at a few and you can decide whether you think the government should invest in these outcomes:
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which teaches children how to disrupt and redirect harmful thought patterns, was linked to reduced anxiety and increased attention levels.
A 2016 study focusing on yoga for orphaned teens — who face higher acuity of adverse childhood experiences — found that yoga can enhance executive functions—skills such as memory, self-regulation, concentration, and cognitive flexibility.
A 2015 study linked the practice of yoga to improved academic performance and engagement, particularly among those who have experienced the trauma of poverty (this study and this study found similar outcomes in different test subjects, and here’s a piece from the Penn State that goes deeper into the observed impacts).
Setting kids aside, yoga yields benefits for all ages (thus, teachers too!) The practice of yoga — including posturing, breathing, chanting, meditating, and so on — can decrease the production of the stress hormone cortisol, regulate nervous system response, and improve physical and mental health (too many studies to number — here’s a database!)
Obviously, the debate is heated. And all sides think they’re right. There’s even a book about this controversy! As a company providing yoga to schools, you know where we stand: We believe yoga belongs in schools. Over the past 10 years, we have seen it fundamentally transform thousands of kids’ lives.
What do you think? Let us know!