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UK churches ban yoga group
At a time when Indian Yoga camps are spreading far and widein Britain, two churches here have banned a group from conducting yoga classes because the ancient practice is llegedly “un-Christian”The yoga class for children was to be run by Louise Woodstock at the Silver street Bapist Chruch and St James church of England in Taunton. Somerset. But church ministers this week banned it and branded yoga as a “sham and “Un=Christian”.
Woodstock, Who was turned away from the churches on Thursday, said the allegations against yoga were “ridiculous” because her classes simply involve music and movement. She was told that yoga “impinges” on the spiritual agenda of the churches. Baba Ramdev’s camps have been held in several places across Britian, most recently in Scotland. The camps attracted a large number of people, mostly Asians, but also non-Asian who have benefited from his advise and exercises. Said Woodstock;” I couldn’t believe it when they suddenly said i couldn’t have the hall any more because yoga is against their Christian ethos.
It’s crazy because we are talking about kids pretending to be animals and doing exercise rountines to rhymes it’s really sweet. “There is nothing that could damage their minds in any shape or form. The churches have completely misunderstood it and i think they are being narrow minded. I explained to the church that my yoga is a completely non-religious activity there is no dagma involved.”Reports from Taunton say that woodstock was originally given permission to use the Baptist Church hall for a children’s activity group, but the minister, the Reversed Simon Farrar, Withdrew his consent after discoverring it was for yoga later, St James’s church also barred her for the same reason. Defending his decision to ban the yoga group, Rev Farrar said, “We are a Christian organisation ans when we let rooms to people we want them to understand that they must be fully in line with our Christian ethos. If it were just a group of kids singing nursery rhymes, there woudn’t be a problem. But she’s called it yoga and therefore there is a dividing line we are not prepared to cross.”
“The philosophy of yoga cannot be teacher of yoga must subscribes to the philosophy. As Chrisfalse and not something we wish to encourge.” Woodstock is among the many non-Asians who practice and teach yoga in Britain.