A civil rights lawsuit has been filed in San Diego Superior Court seeking to halt the teaching of yoga in Encinitas public schools.

Filed on behalf of a couple with two children in the district, the lawsuit claims that yoga represents religious indoctrination and seeks to have the court block the program.  According to news reports, students receive two 30-minute yoga sessions each week under a grant provided by a local yoga studio.

Having the program in the nine schools of the K-6 district "represents a serious breach of the public trust" and a violation of state law that prohibits religious instruction in public schools, said Dean Broyles, attorney for the Escondido-based National Center for Law and Policy.

The school district expressed disappointment with the filing of the lawsuit, claiming that part of the program's goals are to teach students the benefits of exercise and healthful eating.  "We are not teaching religion, we are not instructing anyone in religious dogma," said Superintended Tim Baird. "Yoga is very mainstream."

Parents are allowed to opt their children out of the program and, thus far, 30 have.  But Broyles said the ability for parents to opt out is not sufficient. The program "is extremely divisive and has unfortunately led to the harassment, discrimination, bullying and segregation of children who, for good reason, opt out," said Broyles.

—Source: The Los Angeles Times