Amy E. Feldman , CONSTITUTION DAILY Posted: Friday, March 1, 2013, 1:36 PM

A school district near San Diego has been hit with a lawsuit that claims it violates the students religious freedom.

How? It provides yoga classes to elementary school students.

The physical education program at the Encinitas Union School District is funded by a nonprofit organization that trains students in Ashtanga yoga, which comprises both the physical fitness aspects of yoga along with breathing practices, stress management techniques, and other life skills. Those principles, the plaintiff argues, have roots in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and metaphysical beliefs that are inherently religious and, as a result, violate the public schools duty to maintain a separation between church and state.

Many people are confused. There is no Church of Yoga. How can teaching yoga in school violate the Constitution?

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states in part: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. Similarly, the California Constitution forbids any public funding of religious instruction and guarantees that free exercise and enjoyment of religion without discrimination or preference.

From the News Desk

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Stress test: Does teaching yoga violate Constitution?