Yoga is secular, rules US court

Washington, April 4: Ruling that yoga taught in elementary schools is not a gateway to Hinduism and does not violate religious freedoms, a California appeals court has allowed it to continue. "We conclude that the programme is secular. (and) does not have the primary effect of advancing or inhibiting religion, and does not excessively entangle the school district in religion," the three-member appeals court ruled Friday. The decision by California's 4th District Court of Appeal upheld a lower-court ruling in support of the Encinitas Union Elementary School District in San Diego, utsandiego.com reported. The school had been sued by parents who argued the school yoga programme was inherently spiritual and therefore unconstitutional. Attorney Dean Broyles, who represented the parents in the lawsuit, was quoted as saying he and his clients "are disappointed with the decision and we are carefully considering our options." "No other court in the past 50 years has allowed public schools to lead children in formal religious rituals like the Hindu liturgy of praying to, bowing to, and worshipping the sun god," Broyles said in an email to U-T San Diego.