ALABAMA. U.S., May 24, 2021 (NY Post): Alabama has lifted an almost 28-year ban on yoga being taught in public schools \u2014 but it\u2019s still outlawing chanting, mantras like \u201cOm\u201d and the traditional greeting \u201cNamaste.\u201d The state banned yoga in December 1993 because lawmakers deemed it a \u201cHindu philosophy and method of religious training.\u201d But Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation into law Thursday that allows public school boards the option of teaching yoga \u2014 albeit in a form far removed from the classic class settings that keen yogis will recognize. \u201cAll instruction in yoga shall be limited exclusively to poses, exercises, and stretching techniques,\u201d the new law states \u2014 stipulating that they must \u201chave exclusively English descriptive names.\u201d \u201cChanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, and namaste greetings shall be expressly prohibited,\u201d the law states. K-12 kids will only get taught the newly named poses once their parents sign a consent form confirming that they \u201cunderstand that yoga is part of the Hinduism religion\u201d and are OK with it, the law states.
The ongoing restrictions \u201caren\u2019t useful\u201d and showed phobias or \u201cblatant disrespect to the Hindu culture,\u201d complained Democratic Rep. Jeremy Gray, who sponsored the bill. However, he was forced to be flexible and accept them to keep the bill from failing, he said. Gray is a former cornerback at North Carolina State University who did yoga as part of his training. \u201cWe know that scientific studies show that yoga helps children cope with daily stressors as well as helping to improve behavior, concentration, mobility, flexibility, and strength,\u201d he said. Gray shared numerous messages of thanks for the bill, with many saying \u201cNamaste,\u201d despite the greeting remaining banned. \u201cThus do we close the book on one of the stupidest moral panics in Alabama history, which is really saying a lot,\u201d Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman tweeted.
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