Warning, Practicing yoga is anti-religious (Page 4)

Exactly, especially in Nebraska and Texas!

See if we keep kicking around enough of these things we'll find agreement.

Just a short break from my regularly scheduled sarcasms and innuendo. 

Our nation was in part founded with the concept of "Freedom of Religion" NOT "Freedom from religion". It looks to me like we've been moving from one to the other in the last few decades. I'm not a fan of organized religion personally but I respect those who are and their rights to worship as they see fit....

Doesn't the good book say women are to be subservient to their husbands, she's just being a good wife.

When I watch women doing yoga I have lots of impure thoughts.  So I guess that's anti-religious.

(Sorry if the joke's already been made in the previous 4 pages)

Spirituality and religion have nothing to do with each other.

Yoga emerged and developed as a RELIGIOUS practice (of the physical variety). I understand the objections that proponents of other religions might have to the practice of yoga as part of a public institution in the U.S.

I would similarly understand objections to a Falun Dafa/Gong class as P.E.

I personally have no problem with participating in the rites and practices of other religions and spiritual traditions as long as they don't conflict with my interpretation of mine or other ethical choices I uphold. (Genuflecting during Hindu, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim prayers, okay; tarot cards, okay; sitting through a sermon (of any faith) that directly denigrates mine, not okay; cutting children's fingers off when a close relative dies, not okay.)

Yoga is an interesting case because it's become, and some of its forms have been adapted as, a generic physical activity. The same is true for some traditional martial arts. In both cases I can still appreciate that some parents would have objections because of the religious nature and history of these activities, and I think their children should be allowed to sit quietly on the sidelines in those cases.

I do not think that forms of yoga incorporating asana (poses) that directly worship anything (they're not actually that common) or traditional Sanskrit chants are appropriate in a public-school setting. I'm okay with the modern made-up Sanksrit  chants because they have no roots or connection to any kind of religious practice, and frankly, they're essentially meaningless. You may as well be chanting "Jabberwocky." Basically, most of the watered-down pap yoga that's heavily marketed in the U.S. is just fine

All yoga is hot...

Dudes doing yoga, not hot.

Beg. to. differ.

Peer reviewed studies?

Dudes do yoga?  Hm, never noticed... I must be preoccupied.

As a practicing yogini who has both carefully reviewed and studied the subjects ... YES.

I appreciate your sane reasoning.

Knuckle dragger that I am, I don't want my children doing yoga precisely because of its contribution to religious formation. 

Last year my youngest was a 1st grader at a small private secular school.  The teacher started doing yoga with the kids mid-morning.  I requested that my son not participate.  The teacher and principal honored my request and made accomodations.  

I want my children to be formed to be open to following Christ, not formed to open their chakras, open pathways of energy channels, or opened to worshiping Hindu gods.

If you want that for yourself or your children, go right ahead.

Over the years, I've know more than a few Christian women who have gradually over the years moved away from Christ and towards new age spirituality and religious practices.  They practiced and continue to practice yoga.  Correlation without causality?  I leave it to you to discern.

If any Christian asked my opinion about whether or not they ought to practice yoga, I'd say that they ought not.  If you want to stretch and listen to relaxing music, go for it.  If you're being pulled toward a practice with an eastern religious foundation, something else might be at play.

For Christians who might be practicing yoga and wondering about its effect on their spiritual formation, I'll offer this link to Women of Grace that contains a number of articles on the subject.

I don't have a downward dog in this fight, and don't want to debate it. Just adding my two cents.

I took care of my kid in our situation. Please stand up for parental rights, especially around issues of religious liberty. 

Now them's fightin' words!

I clicked on that link and could only read a few sentences without rolling my eyes. The part about how christians shouldn't do certain stretches that are also done in yoga was just too much. There's a point when you have to realize it's just stretching a hamstring (or IT Band, or whatever). Nothing more.

If it were called "group stretching" but did the exact same thing (because that's all it is, stretching and breathing through the stretches), would I then as a christian be allowed to go? 

I'm all about parents being able to opt out of stuff-- but did you attend the yoga taught in your son's school so see exactly what it was, or did you jump to a conclusion?

Jump to what kind of conclusion?

If they wanted to stretch with the kids, that would be fine with me.
Yoga is called yoga for a reason.

I understand that there are all flavors of it on a spectrum of religious seriousness to frivolity.
I don't want my son doing any of it.

Why not just call it stretching? 

I don't know, did you ask them?

The devil works in mysterious ways.