Yoga in school

[Thewhitedove]

My kids are 3 and 5 and attend the international private school I teach in, in Europe. The school doesnt subscribe to a faith, although children from aged 7 can opt in to Catechism lessons. Children who dont do this, have light activities based on citizenship to do. The school teaches about Diwali, Chinese New Year, Hannukah and celebrates Christmas in a 'Santa' kind of way. 

The school used to provide swimming lessons for all the school and this has stopped since Covid. School had to provide an alternative, and this is yoga. Absolutely every child in the school has is doing it, except mine.

The lessons started today and a colleague told me that children in my son's class were doing sun salutations and saying 'namaste'. 

My kids have to sit out of these lessons (in a different room) and be labelled as outsiders far younger than I ever wanted them to be. My immediate boss and pretty much everyone knows my views, and they respect them, but I feel I need to take this a bit higher to our overall boss who signed this off. 

I just dont know what to say. My min issue is that this has kind of been forced on me and has made me be in a position where I have to make my kids the odd-one-out. It's just unfair. 

I just cant get the Scripture about bowing to false gods out of my head. I just cannot entertain the thought of my kids doing it. Nobody is making them but the whole thing feels unfair.

Any ideas?

[leah777]

namaste is simply a greeting, nothing more. 

a 'sun salutation' is the name of a particular stretching exercise which looks like you stretch towards the sun. Just like 'down dog' is an exercise where you face downwards with your body.

Perhaps it would be good to speak to the teacher of yoga poses and find out what is involved?

[teddyv]

I've known many people that have greatly benefitted from yoga as exercise. Yes, it is rooted in eastern mysticism, but I think being aware of that and letting your kids know about it makes for a good conversation and teaching moment. I don't see it dissimilar to something like acupuncture, also rooted in completely wrong ideas about human physiology, but has benefitted people as well.

[Thewhitedove]

Namaste means 'the divine in me greets the divine in you' and is far too deeply rooted in Eastern spiritual religious practice for me to feel comfortable with. 

 

The sun salutations are part of a prayer to a Hindu god and the movements are designed to activate certain energies through the poses. Hindus themselves will tell you that yoga is a spiritual practise and was not intended as a simple exercise. Every physical movement in yoga has a spiritual meaning. I used to do yoga before I became a Christian and have researched it lot since, and now that I have left it behind, I see how dark yoga actually is. It isnt simple stretching as lots of people believe. It is underpinned by so much paganism and I believe it has no place in a Christian's life. I have seen the teacher's cv and she is extensively qualified in yoga, as well as other Eastern modalities such as meditation and a Chinese energy practise I cant remember the name of. Something like qingong. I am happy for children to learn about other faiths as a means of understanding what other people believe, but to take part in what is essentially a religious worship is too far. 

[Thewhitedove]

Benefitting from something doesnt mean it is good for you in the long run. There are health benefits to cannabis, alcohol, even sex...but this doesnt mean that they are always necessarily prudent.

I know of many people who experienced demonic oppression after yoga and it's not something I feel comfortable with at all. 

[leah777]

3 minutes ago, Thewhitedove said:

Namaste means 'the divine in me greets the divine in you' and is far too deeply rooted in Eastern spiritual religious practice for me to feel comfortable with. 

 

The sun salutations are part of a prayer to a Hindu god and the movements are designed to activate certain energies through the poses. Hindus themselves will tell you that yoga is a spiritual practise and was not intended as a simple exercise. Every physical movement in yoga has a spiritual meaning. I used to do yoga before I became a Christian and have researched it lot since, and now that I have left it behind, I see how dark yoga actually is. It isnt simple stretching as lots of people believe. It is underpinned by so much paganism and I believe it has no place in a Christian's life. I have seen the teacher's cv and she is extensively qualified in yoga, as well as other Eastern modalities such as meditation and a Chinese energy practise I cant remember the name of. Something like qingong. I am happy for children to learn about other faiths as a means of understanding what other people believe, but to take part in what is essentially a religious worship is too far. 

then you have your answer. This is what you say to whoever you need to say it to, to stop your child participating.

[Starise]

It seems the situation there isn't demanding you follow these programs. Since they don't have many other options I understand the feeling your children are singled out. I compare it to the time our neighbors found out we didn't intend to focus on Halloween the way most in my neighborhood did. We found alternatives for our children at that time.

You clearly understand the origins of Yoga which are not good. I commend you for your caution.

[Tzephanyahu]

Shalom @Thewhitedove

How are you sister?

Unfortunately I have no advice for you on this matter, but rather some encouragement.

56 minutes ago, Thewhitedove said:

I just cant get the Scripture about bowing to false gods out of my head. I just cannot entertain the thought of my kids doing it. Nobody is making them but the whole thing feels unfair.

I think you made the right decision.  And I wonder if another child will notice yours sitting out and ponder it.  A small seed like this can have an incredible effect.  If that seed is "they will not do it because they're Christians" that isn't a bad message at all.

I know it must be hard on an emotional level for you and your children.  But even more provocative lines in the sand will be drawn soon, not only in the schools but the whole world, saying "Are you with us or not?"  We must be strong in these smaller battles if we are to have a hope of standing strong in the larger ones.  Therefore, I think you done well personally.

Try to find hope in this situation sister.  As similar situations challenging our faithfulness occur more and more, isn't it a sign of all His return drawing near?  Be brave.  It's okay to get frustrated and angry about this, but don't sin.  Pray that your children's exclusion will lead to the inclusion of others into the Kingdom one day.

May our Father lead your steps and your heart in this situation, in the name of our Lord Yahushua (Jesus).

Love & Shalom

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, Thewhitedove said:

My kids are 3 and 5 and attend the international private school I teach in, in Europe. The school doesnt subscribe to a faith, although children from aged 7 can opt in to Catechism lessons. Children who dont do this, have light activities based on citizenship to do. The school teaches about Diwali, Chinese New Year, Hannukah and celebrates Christmas in a 'Santa' kind of way. 

The school used to provide swimming lessons for all the school and this has stopped since Covid. School had to provide an alternative, and this is yoga. Absolutely every child in the school has is doing it, except mine.

The lessons started today and a colleague told me that children in my son's class were doing sun salutations and saying 'namaste'. 

My kids have to sit out of these lessons (in a different room) and be labelled as outsiders far younger than I ever wanted them to be. My immediate boss and pretty much everyone knows my views, and they respect them, but I feel I need to take this a bit higher to our overall boss who signed this off. 

I just dont know what to say. My min issue is that this has kind of been forced on me and has made me be in a position where I have to make my kids the odd-one-out. It's just unfair. 

I just cant get the Scripture about bowing to false gods out of my head. I just cannot entertain the thought of my kids doing it. Nobody is making them but the whole thing feels unfair.

Any ideas?

Whatever you do should be done for God's glory. A Christian should exercise caution when it comes to Yoga. Perhaps you should tell your small children how you feel about this in a way that a small child can understand. You should be glad you are being obedient to God. The world is not going to understand your feelings on this. We are not on this earth to please them. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thewhitedove]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I will reply properly later but I want to touch on the fact that I am doing something counter cultural for Jesus' sake. For those who dont know, my husband is a non believer but I told him my views. He said I'm turning into a weirdo ? anyway, it's hard to draw lines in the sand with a liberal, non believer husband who himself commented that I was doing yoga myself, not so long ago. Surprisingly, everyone has been so respectful of my views (except hubby who thinks I'm mad) but its true: if I cant fight the small battles, I wont be able to fight the bigger ones.