Yoga In Schools Allowed By California Judge Who Says It's Not A Religion

San Diego Superior Court Judge John S. Meyer ruled Monday that a public school district can teach yoga, siding with administrators who argued the practice is a secular way to promote strength, flexibility and balance.

This all started when a group of parents learned that yoga classes were introduced in 2011 at one school and later expanded to others, and objected that they were inherently religious and violate the constitutional principle of separating church and state.

The lawsuit did not seek monetary damages, but asked the court to intervene and suspend the program.

Yoga is a religious practice, but not the way that it is taught by the Encinitas Union School District at its nine campuses. The school district stripped classes of all cultural references, including the Sanskrit language. For example, the lotus position was renamed the "crisscross applesauce" pose.

In Encinitas, yoga is being taught to kids in an effort to reduce bullying, obesity and over competitiveness.

The district is believed to be the first in the country to have full-time yoga teachers at every one of its schools. The lessons are funded by a $533,720, three-year grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Encinitas that promotes Asthanga yoga. This practice is offered in addition to regular physical education.