The action was filed by The National Center for Law & Policy, an Escondido, Calif.-based nonprofit legal defense organization focusing on protection and promotion of religious freedom, the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, parental rights and other civil liberties.

NCLP attorney Dean R. Broyles filed the lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock, parents whose children attend schools in the district.

EUSDs Ashtanga yoga program represents a serious breach of the public trust, Broyles said in a press release.

The program is extremely divisive and has unfortunately led to the harassment, discrimination, bullying and segregation of children who, for good reasons, opt out of the program, he added.

The complaint alleges that the school district used state resources to endorse Ashtanga yoga thereby unlawfully promoting religious beliefs, and failed to suspend the Ashtanga yoga program.

The lawsuit points out that in September 2012, EUSD gave parents the option to opt out of the program, which provides 60 minutes of weekly yoga instruction. Students who dropped the class were placed in non physical education classes or independent study.

Ashtanga is a yoga technique developed by K. Pattabhi Jois. It employs yoga breathing techniques to alleviate stress and increase body circulation.

Some parents in the district strongly opposed yoga inclusion in EUSDs health and wellness program. EUSD received a $533,720 grant from the KP Jois Foundation to fund the programs for students K-6 for the 2012-2013 school year (I-W, Jan. 11, 2013).

According to the NCLP press release, the lawsuit doesnt seek monetary damages, but wants EUSD to suspend the Ashtanga yoga program and restore traditional physical education to the district.

EUSD superintendent Timothy Baird told India-West in a phone interview Feb. 22 that he is disappointed by the lawsuit and that EUSD stands behind the program and will continue to offer it to students because of its health benefits and support from parents, students and teachers.

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Parents Sue to Remove Yoga from Calif. School District