Benedictine College in Kansas scraps yoga because of its Indian origin
While the world is celebrating yoga as a basic means of living, Benedictine College in Kansas has announced that its campus will no longer be offering academic or recreational yoga classes, stating that yoga is creating ‘eastern mysticism’, reported The Independent.
The decision was taken in response to the concerns raised by the faculty and at the request of Archbishop Joseph Naumann and Abbot James Albers.
“Yoga as created has some potential for eastern mysticism which has caused concern among members of the Catholic Church,” Stephen Minnis, president of the college told campus newspaper BC Circuit.
“[Archbishop Naumann] has expressed his concerns and the issues surrounding them. We asked ourselves if there was a way to bring those yoga benefits to our students and faculty without the possible effects of eastern mysticism and are currently investigating other alternatives,” he added
The College instead will be offering a ‘stretching and breathing’ class called ‘Lifestyle Fitness’ in replacement.
Not sure if spiritual harm of yoga could come to the campus, Munnis believes ‘it is better to be safe than sorry’. “My personal belief is that yoga has become like Kleenex- a generic term for stretching and breathing. I don’t care what it is called, so long as it is only physical,” he added.
The local Catholic leaders feared the origin of yoga in ancient India. “It is a mind and body practice developed under Hinduism, the goal of which is spiritual purification that will lead to a higher level of understanding and eventually union with the divine,” Rev John Riley, chancellor for the Archdiocese of Kansas City was quoted by the daily.
“It is for these reasons that Catholics are alerted to the dangers of the practice of yoga and are encouraged to look for other exercise alternatives that do not incorporate a spiritual dimension,” he added
He suggested Catholics seeking spiritual alternative, should try Pietra Fitness, which incorporates Christian prayer and meditation with stretching and strengthening. As per the campus newspaper, students have not been informed about cancellation of yoga classes.
Fearing yoga
A University in Kansas has announced that campus will no longer be offering academic or recreational yoga classes, citing the fear of Yoga creating ‘eastern mysticism’
The College instead will be offering a ‘stretching and breathing’ class called ‘Lifestyle Fitness’ in replacement
“Catholics seeking spiritual alternative, should try Pietra Fitness”