A bill in Alabama that would have lifted the 1993 ban on yoga in public schools has stalled in the state’s Senate, CBS News reported Thursday.
During a hearing of the Alabama state Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, representatives from two conservative groups objected, stating concerns that yoga could promote Hinduism and guided meditation practices, Associated Press reported.
“This whole notion that if you do yoga, you’ll become Hindu — I’ve been doing yoga for 10 years and I go to church and I’m very much a Christian,” said Democratic State Rep. Jeremy Gray, who sponsored the bill that has stalled in the state’s Senate.
Gray, who is also a former cornerback from North Carolina State University, said that he was introduced to yoga while playing football. He said yoga could provide many physical and mental benefits for students.
Senate Judiciary Committee ties on reporting the bill out, meaning it fails for now. Chair Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, moved to reconsider the vote and carry it over, meaning it can come back. #alpolitics
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) March 31, 2021
The bill, which was first introduced in 2019, would have allowed yoga as an elective course to students from kindergarten to grade twelve, and they would have learned yoga poses, exercises and stretching techniques. The bill further states that, “chanting, mantras, mudras, the use of mandalas, and namaste greetings shall be expressly prohibited.”
“I can give you tons of reasons why yoga is beneficial and those reasons are backed by studies and data. There is no study to my knowledge that says doing yoga exercise converts people to Hinduism,” Gray wrote in an email to CBS News. (RELATED: Religious Leader Calls On High-End Designer To Pull ‘Insensitive’ $2,000 Leather Yoga Mat)
Under the legislation, children would “have the option to opt out in favor of alternative activities, which shall be made available.”
“This bill is not making anyone do yoga, it’s just making it an option which will be left up to local boards of education,” Gray said in an email to CBS News.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.