Alabama Will Now Allow Yoga In Its Public Schools (But Students Can't Say 'Namaste')

MAY 21, 2021


Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill to allow public schools to offer yoga, ending a ban that stood for nearly 30 years. Christian conservatives who back the ban said yoga would open the door for people to be converted to Hinduism.

The new law allows yoga to be offered as an elective for grades K-12. While it erases a ban that, over the years, some schools had not realized existed, it also imposes restrictions on how yoga should be taught. Students won't be allowed to say, "Namaste," for instance. Meditation is not allowed.

"Chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, and namaste greetings shall be expressly prohibited," the bill states. It also requires English names be used for all poses and exercises. And before any students try a tree pose, they'll need a parent's permission slip.

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/21/999020140/its-now-legal-to-practice-yoga-in-alabamas-public-schools

It's not English.

I often think of a quote from Bugs Bunny cartoons when I see things like this: "What a Maroon"

The long, infamous Republican embrace of anti-immigrant nativism.

It amazes me, when I think to "Whites Only" lunch counters and rest rooms, and "Coloreds Only" drinking fountains, that the people who promoted that have more-or-less silently yearned for it since the Civil Rights era, then Trump showed up with his "permission slips" for all of them, and in return, they made him their king.

Sounds sickening to frame it that way, but really...it's exactly how it went down.

Louis Gohmert, you have a rival for Stupidest Member of Congress Ever.

Why do these dumbasses think it's not OK to practice any religion except Christianity (which, BTW, most of them DON'T really practice---yunno, all that "love thy neighbor," "welcome the stranger, feed the poor, heal the sick" stuff)?? Only thing I can figure out is that they worship a weak god who is afraid of being overpowered by someone else's god.

Tubby Tommerville is a senator.

Other than Raffy Cruz and Jesse Helms, they don't get much lower. Mr. Potato may not be the dumbest member of Congress Ever, but he's likely the dumbest member of Congress now.

I wonder what these bumblefucks think the tree pose is?

Yoga is practiced by a huge variety of people all over the world - it can have a spiritual aspect, or not - it's completely up to the person. Local football players take hot yoga as it increases strength, balance and poise. I take it because I've been a creaky mess since falling off a ladder.

Well, some progress is better than no progress, so yay for that!

That's the Republicans job