Help: Yoga in Catholic Classroom?

[Tom317]

My son’s 4th grade class is using yoga for meditation and relaxation, usign the Lotust position. I realize yoga in the hands of a strong Catholic is not likely to do harm, but should our kids be doing such things in a Catholic school?

Yoga is founded in eastern religions, it makes no sense to me.

Help?

 

[Mommyof02green]

My son’s 4th grade class is using yoga for meditation and relaxation, usign the Lotust position. I realize yoga in the hands of a strong Catholic is not likely to do harm, but should our kids be doing such things in a Catholic school?

Yoga is founded in eastern religions, it makes no sense to me.

Help?

**Q: **For several months our parish bulletin has included this announcement: “Introduction to yoga for beginning, intermediate, and advanced Hatha yoga, and Iyengar techniques for your wellness and stress relief. Your teacher has found yoga to be a tool for healing for the body, mind, and spirit.” Is this acceptable and should it be published in a church bulletin?

**A:**Particular physical exercises that are common to yoga and that help improve one’s health are perfectly fine. The problem is when a Christian participates in non-Christian Eastern spirituality. If your church is sponsoring an exercise class, it should call it simply an exercise class and omit confusing and possibly scandalous terminology such as yoga. If the church is sponsoring classes in non-Christian Eastern spirituality, that is a serious problem that should be discussed with the pastor.

source: Quick Questions

So in short if they are just doing the moves fine…however if they are learning the “Eastern Spirituality” that comes with it, then there is a problem.

**Q: **Is it okay for Catholics to use yoga as part of an exercise program? What about in physical education for children?

A: Two factors are relevant here: First, it depends on whether the yoga is being presented in a manner that is free of religious elements-i.e., purely as a system of physical exercise. If it is coupled with elements of Hindu spirituality (e.g., talk about moving kundalini, or energy, around your body), it is not appropriate for Catholics to use it as part of their exercise routine.

Children are not mature in their thinking, and while an adult who is firm in his faith might be able to go to an “iffy” yoga exercise class without danger of being attracted to Hindu spirituality, a child well might not. If a child is being put in danger of being attracted to Hindu spirituality-either now or in the future-by the program, then it is not appropriate.

Source Quick Questions

So if its just physical exercises MINUS the religious and eastern religion. Then you are okay.

However, if it is coupled with the Eastern Spirituality then it might be problematic for your child.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ace86]

Johnette Benkovic from EWTN said if I recall correctly that a Catholic should not participate in Yoga at all.

 

[Tom317]

So in short if they are just doing the moves fine…however if they are learning the “Eastern Spirituality” that comes with it, then there is a problem.

So if its just physical exercises MINUS the religious and eastern religion. Then you are okay.

However, if it is coupled with the Eastern Spirituality then it might be problematic for your child.

Hope this helps.

My problem with this is that yoga is founded in eastern religions, and while the exercises might seem benign, it can also lead to a young Catholic being open to all sorts of things that are not good for developing Catholic minds. I have no clue why any Catholic school would even introduce such things and I am not sure yet how to approach the school about it.

 

[Mommyof02green]

My problem with this is that yoga is founded in eastern religions, and while the exercises might seem benign, it can also lead to a young Catholic being open to all sorts of things that are not good for developing Catholic minds. I have no clue why any Catholic school would even introduce such things and I am not sure yet how to approach the school about it.

Tom… I hear you and I totally understand and agree… we should not subject our kids to the danger of being attracted to Hindu spirituality.

How is the class being taught?? Is my question.
Is it being taught manner that is free of religious elements???(Religious Elements being talk about moving kundalini, or energy, around your body)

If yes it’s being taught in a manner FREE from these religious elements then in my opinion, you don’t have anything to worry about.

However, if the answer is NO, then (In my opinion) you need to call the school and tell them that you do not want your child doing this and be asked that he/she is taken to the Library for study time.

I would just be frank with the school and say I’m paying for Catholic Ed, and I want my child to be taught Catholic Ed and NOT be exposed to the elements of Eastern Spirituality.

Bottom line this is just my opinion. You know what is best for you child. And it’s your job to do what is best for your child in matter of Faith and Morals. God Bless

 

[Tom317]

Tom… I hear you and I totally understand and agree… we should not subject our kids to the danger of being attracted to Hindu spirituality.

How is the class being taught?? Is my question.
Is it being taught manner that is free of religious elements???(Religious Elements being talk about moving kundalini, or energy, around your body)

If yes it’s being taught in a manner FREE from these religious elements then in my opinion, you don’t have anything to worry about.

However, if the answer is NO, then (In my opinion) you need to call the school and tell them that you do not want your child doing this and be asked that he/she is taken to the Library for study time.

I would just be frank with the school and say I’m paying for Catholic Ed, and I want my child to be taught Catholic Ed and NOT be exposed to the elements of Eastern Spirituality.

The yoga is being used during their religion class. The kids sit on the floor and are told to go into a full lotus position (including the namaskara hands position).

This may seem harmless, yet it opens a child’s mind to accepting eatern religions as being valid.

 

[StCsDavid]

I would question the wisdom of introducing Yoga. Why not introduce children to Lectio Divina instead? You can gain the same meditative benefits plus you’re reflecting on sacred scripture versus Eastern Theology.

 

[Contarini]

The yoga is being used during their religion class. The kids sit on the floor and are told to go into a full lotus position (including the namaskara hands position).

This may seem harmless, yet it opens a child’s mind to accepting eatern religions as being valid.

Are you seriously suggesting that one should never study any practice that has a non-Christian origin, lest one come to worship other gods?

No more reading the Iliad and Odyssey. No more studying of astronomy. Shucks, no more sailing in boats–after all, that might lead one to think that prehistoric religions were valid.

Certainly one should not pray, because after all, ancient pagan religions prayed. One should not speak of the Eucharist as a sacrifice–that’s a very pagan concept.

My point is that Eastern cultural and religious practices are often discriminated against simply because they have not historically been part of the world in which Christians live. But we need to look at such practices and see if they are any less compatible with Christianity than the many such practices from more familiar pagan traditions that have already been incorporated into the Judaeo-Christian tradition.

If Christianity had originated in India, no doubt Christians would always have prayed in the lotus position.

Isn’t the Catholic teaching that there are valid elements in all religions? So what’s the problem here? If you teach children to reject everything about non-Christian religions, you’re setting them up for trouble later–at least if they are of a questioning disposition. C. S. Lewis said that one of the reasons he abandoned Christianity as a teenager was that he was taught to believe that all non-Christian religions were simply human constructs–mere myth and superstition. It didn’t make sense to him that Christianity (which looked so much like other religions in so many ways) was absolutely unique. He came back to faith as a result of understanding that Christianity is not completely separate from other religions–instead, it’s the fulfillment of everything that is good and true in other religions.

Edwin

 

[Mommyof02green]

The yoga is being used during their religion class. The kids sit on the floor and are told to go into a full lotus position (including the namaskara hands position).

This may seem harmless, yet it opens a child’s mind to accepting eatern religions as being valid.

That right there is enough to bug me… Why are they doing that during Religious Ed??? During Religious Ed time they should be learning Church History, Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. I would have my child sit in the library during this time for extra study time.

At first I thought maybe it was done during a Gym type class…
If it were done in Gym Class MINUS all the Religious Stuff I would not have a problem.

However, being done during Religion Ed time is a big, big problem!!!

I would call the school and tell them you don’t want your child doing this and want him/her placed in the Library during this time.

Also if you haven’t I would talk to the principal and explain to him/her your feeling.

If that doesn’t work, I would talk to the priest. Most Catholic Schools are associated with a parish. The parish priest should be informed. This is not something for Religion Class… Gym Class maybe with some caution.

 

[Mommyof02green]

Are you seriously suggesting that one should never study any practice that has a non-Christian origin, lest one come to worship other gods?

I don’t believe anyone is suggesting that. The question is it right for a 4th grader to be expose to this??? My opinion is NO, not at 4th grade. This is something that should wait until High School or even College years.

No more reading the Iliad and Odyssey. No more studying of astronomy. Shucks, no more sailing in boats–after all, that might lead one to think that prehistoric religions were valid.

When did you read the Iliad and Odyssey??? Did you read in 4th Grade??? I didn’t read that stuff till Jr High/High School (7th-12th grade)

Certainly one should not pray, because after all, ancient pagan religions prayed. One should not speak of the Eucharist as a sacrifice–that’s a very pagan concept.

I’m not sure how this relates to is it right for a 4th grader to be exposed to other religions.

My point is that Eastern cultural and religious practices are often discriminated against simply because they have not historically been part of the world in which Christians live. But we need to look at such practices and see if they are any less compatible with Christianity than the many such practices from more familiar pagan traditions that have already been incorporated into the Judaeo-Christian tradition.

Should we be doing this in 4th grade??? Do you honestly believe a 4th grader can do this??? Honestly I know of some Adults that have a hard time with this.

If Christianity had originated in India, no doubt Christians would always have prayed in the lotus position.

I don’t think that is the issue here.

Isn’t the Catholic teaching that there are valid elements in all religions? So what’s the problem here?

Yes, there are valid elements in all religions. However, isn’t a 4th graders time better spent learning what His/Her religion actually teaches???

If you teach children to reject everything about non-Christian religions, you’re setting them up for trouble later–at least if they are of a questioning disposition. C. S. Lewis said that one of the reasons he abandoned Christianity as a teenager was that he was taught to believe that all non-Christian religions were simply human constructs–mere myth and superstition. It didn’t make sense to him that Christianity (which looked so much like other religions in so many ways) was absolutely unique. He came back to faith as a result of understanding that Christianity is not completely separate from other religions–instead, it’s the fulfillment of everything that is good and true in other religions.

Edwin

I don’t think that we are setting up our kids to reject other religions. We have to teach them at their age level and give them the solid base they need first. They should be learning about their religion and faith, BEFORE they are exposed to other religion and faiths.

 

[Contarini]

I don’t believe anyone is suggesting that. The question is it right for a 4th grader to be expose to this??? My opinion is NO, not at 4th grade. This is something that should wait until High School or even College years.

That’s a valid approach.

When did you read the Iliad and Odyssey??? Did you read in 4th Grade??? I didn’t read that stuff till Jr High/High School (7th-12th grade)

I didn’t read the actual texts that young, no, but I read lots of stories and myths from a very young age.

I’m not sure how this relates to is it right for a 4th grader to be exposed to other religions.

Well, I’m questioning whether yoga is necessarily part of “another religion” any more than more familiar practices like prayer or sacrifice. The techniques, postures, etc., seem to me to be independent of the deities to which they are addressed. The trickier question is whether the philosophical assumptions are compatible with Christianity. The arguments I’ve seen purporting to show otherwise have not convinced me.

My wife did not grow up with the kind of fear of these practices I did, and it seems to me that she has much less trouble with being attracted to other religions than I do. In other words, I was taught that practices or ideas from other religions should be shunned, so if I find something appealing in them there’s always that thought in the back of my mind, “Does this mean that Hinduism is just as true as Christianity?” My wife never asks this question, because she was never taught that practices like yoga were somehow intrinsically pagan. That’s the point I’m trying to make–arguably if you teach children to approach such practices without fear, but at the same time ground them in the Christian faith, they may have fewer problems later.

But I totally agree that the key is for them to be steeped in Christianity, and that the average Catholic school these days may not be doing a very good job of that.

Edwin

 

[Tom317]

Are you seriously suggesting that one should never study any practice that has a non-Christian origin, lest one come to worship other gods?

No more reading the Iliad and Odyssey. No more studying of astronomy. Shucks, no more sailing in boats–after all, that might lead one to think that prehistoric religions were valid.

Certainly one should not pray, because after all, ancient pagan religions prayed. One should not speak of the Eucharist as a sacrifice–that’s a very pagan concept.

My point is that Eastern cultural and religious practices are often discriminated against simply because they have not historically been part of the world in which Christians live. But we need to look at such practices and see if they are any less compatible with Christianity than the many such practices from more familiar pagan traditions that have already been incorporated into the Judaeo-Christian tradition.

If Christianity had originated in India, no doubt Christians would always have prayed in the lotus position.

Isn’t the Catholic teaching that there are valid elements in all religions? So what’s the problem here? If you teach children to reject everything about non-Christian religions, you’re setting them up for trouble later–at least if they are of a questioning disposition. C. S. Lewis said that one of the reasons he abandoned Christianity as a teenager was that he was taught to believe that all non-Christian religions were simply human constructs–mere myth and superstition. It didn’t make sense to him that Christianity (which looked so much like other religions in so many ways) was absolutely unique. He came back to faith as a result of understanding that Christianity is not completely separate from other religions–instead, it’s the fulfillment of everything that is good and true in other religions.

Edwin

Come on, be reasonable. I neve once said other religions should not be studied or that we should somehow live in fear of the rest of the world. This is about choosing what is best for a child’s developing mind and spirit and trying to ensure they raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Adults who are strong in the faith can easily study such things without an impact on their faith, yet a child’s mind is like a sponge. All one has to do is see how public schools are implementing gay accptance in order to change future generations…change a child’s mind and you change the culture.

Christianity is NOT the fullment of what is good in other religions. It is the fullness of God’s revelation to the world, there is a huge difference between the two.

 

[Tom317]

That right there is enough to bug me… Why are they doing that during Religious Ed??? During Religious Ed time they should be learning Church History, Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. I would have my child sit in the library during this time for extra study time.

At first I thought maybe it was done during a Gym type class…
If it were done in Gym Class MINUS all the Religious Stuff I would not have a problem.

However, being done during Religion Ed time is a big, big problem!!!

I would call the school and tell them you don’t want your child doing this and want him/her placed in the Library during this time.

Also if you haven’t I would talk to the principal and explain to him/her your feeling.

If that doesn’t work, I would talk to the priest. Most Catholic Schools are associated with a parish. The parish priest should be informed. This is not something for Religion Class… Gym Class maybe with some caution.

Good suggestions, thank you.

 

[Mommyof02green]

I didn’t read the actual texts that young, no, but I read lots of stories and myths from a very young age.

As do my kids: Cinderella, Robin Hood, Peter Pan, etc. However, I am guarded on what I expose to them, because they are young, and I want them to have good solid Faith and Morals before I expose them to other things.

A Wiseman builds his house a rock. Well I want my kids to have a faith build on rock; before I send in the water… after all I don’t want them to be washed away.

Well, I’m questioning whether yoga is necessarily part of “another religion” any more than more familiar practices like prayer or sacrifice. The techniques, postures, etc., seem to me to be independent of the deities to which they are addressed. The trickier question is whether the philosophical assumptions are compatible with Christianity. The arguments I’ve seen purporting to show otherwise have not convinced me.

As I have stated the moves in of themselves I don’t have a problem with, it the philosophical assumptions and Eastern Spirituality that is taught with the moves I have issues with.

I personally don’t think a 4th grader should be exposed to this type of spirituality, when there own Christian Spirituality is young and growing. They should be learning about the sacraments, saints, Christian prayers, 10 Commandments, Scripture passages, etc.

My wife did not grow up with the kind of fear of these practices I did, and it seems to me that she has much less trouble with being attracted to other religions than I do. In other words, I was taught that practices or ideas from other religions should be shunned, so if I find something appealing in them there’s always that thought in the back of my mind, “Does this mean that Hinduism is just as true as Christianity?” My wife never asks this question, because she was never taught that practices like yoga were somehow intrinsically pagan. That’s the point I’m trying to make–arguably if you teach children to approach such practices without fear, but at the same time ground them in the Christian faith, they may have fewer problems later.

I personally don’t have fear of being attracted to these things as well… however I have fear for my kids… I don’t think we should be exposing our kids to things at such a young age. We should give them a solid base first!!!

But I totally agree that the key is for them to be steeped in Christianity, and that the average Catholic school these days may not be doing a very good job of that.

I think you and I and the OP are in an agreement here. He is paying extra money to have his kids in a Catholic School and expects them to be taught the Catholic Faith. However, the religion time, the time of day that the child learns about faith, is being spent learning yoga…

Frankly I would be upset too. I think any parent would be upset to learn that the Religion time is being spent learning yoga and not the Bible or Church History, or any other expects about YOUR faith.

 

[Tom317]

That’s a valid approach.

I didn’t read the actual texts that young, no, but I read lots of stories and myths from a very young age.

Well, I’m questioning whether yoga is necessarily part of “another religion” any more than more familiar practices like prayer or sacrifice. The techniques, postures, etc., seem to me to be independent of the deities to which they are addressed. The trickier question is whether the philosophical assumptions are compatible with Christianity. The arguments I’ve seen purporting to show otherwise have not convinced me.

My wife did not grow up with the kind of fear of these practices I did, and it seems to me that she has much less trouble with being attracted to other religions than I do. In other words, I was taught that practices or ideas from other religions should be shunned, so if I find something appealing in them there’s always that thought in the back of my mind, “Does this mean that Hinduism is just as true as Christianity?” My wife never asks this question, because she was never taught that practices like yoga were somehow intrinsically pagan. That’s the point I’m trying to make–arguably if you teach children to approach such practices without fear, but at the same time ground them in the Christian faith, they may have fewer problems later.

But I totally agree that the key is for them to be steeped in Christianity, and that the average Catholic school these days may not be doing a very good job of that.

Edwin

We are talking about a 4th grade Catholic, not a thrid year college student. Our children need to be fully formed in the Catholic faith, and frankly it is good to know about other faiths, but not at all essential, because Christ is the way no matter what we know of other religions. Once you know Christ, everything else pales in comparison and kids should not have their mind cluttered with conflicting faiths.

 

[Mommyof02green]

Good suggestions, thank you.

Welcome

 

[Contarini]

Christianity is NOT the fullment of what is good in other religions. It is the fullness of God’s revelation to the world, there is a huge difference between the two.

What’s the difference? I don’t mean the difference between “what is good in other religions” and “God’s revelation to the world.” That would get us into tough issues about natural knowledge of God vs. special revelation. Certainly the two things are distinct.

But the *fulfillment *of what is good in other religions is the same–i.e., it has the same content–as the *fullness *of revelation. In other words, everything good in other religions points toward God’s revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ.

Do you really disagree with that?

Edwin

 

[Tom317]

What’s the difference? I don’t mean the difference between “what is good in other religions” and “God’s revelation to the world.” That would get us into tough issues about natural knowledge of God vs. special revelation. Certainly the two things are distinct.

But the *fulfillment *of what is good in other religions is the same–i.e., it has the same content–as the *fullness *of revelation. In other words, everything good in other religions points toward God’s revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ.

Do you really disagree with that?

Edwin

Yes, most definitely I disagree.

While many (not all by any means) religions hold some truths, rarely do you anyone in those faiths come to Christ. Further, the Catholic faith contains the fullness of truth, which means that anything that is good in another religion is already present in the Catholic faith, so it is pure redundancy for a Catholic to know other faiths (not bad, just redundant). Finally, since every soul in Heaven is “Catholic,” why shouldn’t we be teaching our kids to be Catholic in this world first?

Not to belittle any other faiths, yet nothing compares to Christ and the Church He founded, so why would we ever want to confuse or conflict the mind of a fourth grade Catholic student?

 

[puzzleannie]

I asked SIL about this, she is a confirmed pagan who teaches yoga and she said the lotus position is an advanced one that should not be used with children and should only be used by someone who has been working with a trained leader (she used some word like guru or swami, I forget what) and is physically capable of it.

 

[Contarini]

I asked SIL about this, she is a confirmed pagan who teaches yoga and she said the lotus position is an advanced one that should not be used with children and should only be used by someone who has been working with a trained leader (she used some word like guru or swami, I forget what) and is physically capable of it.

Yes, that actually surprised me greatly. I couldn’t even do a half lotus myself. I knew that kids are more flexible so I assumed the teachers knew their business. But this does raise a different point–separately from the theological issues, you want to make sure that yoga instructors know what they are doing. There are a lot of people out there who try to teach it without being properly trained.

Edwin