‘Un-Christian’ yoga banned in Austrian primary school

Parent argued classes went against teachings of Bible

People practice yoga  in New York City last month. Photograph: Andrew Burton/Getty Images
People practice yoga in New York City last month. Photograph: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

An Austrian primary school has dropped yoga classes for children after a mother argued that yoga goes against Christian teachings.

Yoga teacher Ingrid Karner said she was told to stop classes at the school in the south-eastern village of Dechantskirchen after a complaint “that it’s not allowed, according to the Bible”.

School principal Maria Hofer told the Die Kleine Zeitung newspaper that no parents complained when courses started this year.

But she said they were stopped after the unidentified mother said even the word “yoga ... had negative effects”.

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School inspector Helga Thomann said schools should not offer anything linked to “esoteric” practices.

Yoga has its origins in Hinduism and Buddhism.