Yoga Instructor Testifies in Encinitas School Lawsuit

Jennifer Nicole Brown is one of the contractors who are certified to instruct yoga. She testifies in court Thursday about the discussion she had with administrators over chanting.

Yoga Pose Demo in Encinitas School Lawsuit

Instructor Jennifer Nicole Brown demonstrates the poses she teaches in the Encinitas schools as part of its yoga program. Opponents are suing the district to end the instruction of yoga as part of the schools' physical education programs.

An instructor testifying in a lawsuit filed over the Encinitas school district's yoga program demonstrated some basic poses inside a San Diego courtroom Wednesday.

At issue: are yoga poses religious in nature and can schools offer yoga instruction as part of its physical education program without promoting the religion or spirituality behind the practice?

Judge John S. Meyer heard testimony this week regarding Ashtanga yoga and a curriculum established within the Encinitas Union School District where students practice yoga as P.E.

The district established its yoga program with a $500,000 grant from the K.P. Jois Foundation. The hope was that yoga would help the elementary school students focus on studies, keep them calm and may even curb bullying.

All nine schools in the district are currently participating in the program.

However some parents objected when the program was launched in the fall of 2012. After complaining to the district, opponents sued claiming the classes are being used to indoctrinate children and "spread the gospel" of Ashtanga yoga. The plaintiffs want yoga classes suspended immediately.

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Lawsuit: Schools spreading 'gospel' of yoga