Now Church of England bans yoga (From Daily Echo)
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Instructor, 81, banned from teaching yoga at St Andrew’s C of E Church in Dibden Purlieu
7:13am Monday 1st October 2012 in News
Exclusive By Tara Russell, News Reporter
Now Church of England bans yoga
THE Anglican Church has been dragged into the yoga controversy – by banning an 81-year- old Christian fitness instructor from holding classes at a Hampshire church hall.
Despite being retired for more than 20 years, Eileen Meegan tirelessly teaches yoga for four hours a week – making sure pensioners socialise, keep supple and are de-stressed.
But the Daily Echo can today reveal that St Andrew’s C of E Church in Dibden Purlieu has banned her classes from its premises.
It joins the Roman Catholic St Edmund’s Church in Southampton which banned yoga teacher Cori Withell from its hall, saying her classes were not compatible with the Catholic faith.
Octogenarian Eileen said she has inquired about the halls on several occasions but she was told it was against the church’s religion.
Eileen, who used to work for the NHS community dental service, said: “The WI hall gets so cold in winter and they have such beautiful rooms at the church.
“It was all going swimmingly until I said I taught yoga, then they froze. They said yoga was against their religion and it was dangerous for the mind.
“They think when we do meditation someone could have influence on the group with bad thoughts. I have never heard so much nonsense in my whole life.”
The great-grandmother-offive added: “I am a Christian myself. I have a poem here from a Catholic magazine about a caterpillar changing into a butterfly for the relaxation part of the session.
“If anything, doing yoga has enhanced my faith as a Christian.
“What have they got to be frightened of ? It is just about calming people’s minds and improving flexibility. My groups are much more flexible. I think it is ignorance.”
Last week the Daily Echo reported how Catholic priest Father John Chandler told Miss Withell she could not teach her classes in St Edmund’s, off The Avenue, due to yoga’s Hindu roots.
The ban sparked an international religious row, with one of the world’s leading Hindus even contacting the Daily Echo, urging the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to “intervene immediately”.
The yoga bans are not Church of England or Roman Catholic Church policy, with decisions left to the discretion of individual priests. The Rev John Currin, vicar at St Andrew’s Church, was last night unavailable for comment.
However, a Church of England spokesman said that while there are some “cases of particular sensitivities to the background of yoga with its roots in the Hindu faith”, the general feeling was that yoga was today used as a way to keep fit.
He said: “You can look at most church halls and there will be yoga classes held there because today it is seen as a way to keep fit and agile, not for its spiritual background.”
Comments(34)
havemercy
says...
8:13am Mon 1 Oct 12
aldermoorboy wrote:Obviously this is not the case in St Andrews Church, Dibden Purlieu!
This is crazy, I thought Christian's were all about loving/caring.
Religious leaders should re think these decisions.
We should all show respect for all caring people.
Vix1
says...
8:20am Mon 1 Oct 12
hulla baloo
says...
8:23am Mon 1 Oct 12
sarfhamton
says...
8:31am Mon 1 Oct 12
Georgem
says...
8:32am Mon 1 Oct 12
This isn't "The Church" banning anything. How can they? Eileen Meegan is still free to teach yoga.
davel_cats
says...
9:01am Mon 1 Oct 12
Mr E
says...
9:04am Mon 1 Oct 12
Georgem
says...
9:08am Mon 1 Oct 12
Mr E wrote:Maybe you're on to something. Maybe this is all just an elaborate marketing ploy by the Yoga marketing board.
if Yoga is getting this many bans , i might just take it up!
RedDan
says...
9:24am Mon 1 Oct 12
Vix1 wrote:Sorry but those last two lines made me laugh. What have you people been forcing on everyone else for centuries?
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
Georgem
says...
9:29am Mon 1 Oct 12
RedDan wrote:Christmas!
Vix1 wrote:Sorry but those last two lines made me laugh. What have you people been forcing on everyone else for centuries?
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
Huffter
says...
9:30am Mon 1 Oct 12
David757
says...
10:12am Mon 1 Oct 12
cliffwalker
says...
10:14am Mon 1 Oct 12
Georgem
says...
10:38am Mon 1 Oct 12
David757 wrote:You're not thinking of this are you?
I understand that this story is from several years ago (you'll notice any sense of timescale is carefully avoided in the story!).
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
478755/Baptist-minis
ter-bans-toddlers-ch
urch-hall-yoga-class
-unchristian.html
I can't find any reference to today's story from that time? Got any links?
southy
says...
11:18am Mon 1 Oct 12
Vix1 wrote:We are not protective faiths, because the majority in Britian are Atheists, if we was a Religious bunch then all religious temples off any faith would be pack out, but the truth is they are near on empty.
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
southy
says...
11:31am Mon 1 Oct 12
Vix1 wrote:Good old Christmas, real name Yule Tide and a Pagan Festival thats been contaminated by christains trying to wipe out all tracies of our Religious pass of Paganism
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
Georgem
says...
11:34am Mon 1 Oct 12
southy wrote:Well, to be fair, southy, it's been contaminated by retail giants trying to wipe out all traces of low sales figures on their balance sheets!
Vix1 wrote:Good old Christmas, real name Yule Tide and a Pagan Festival thats been contaminated by christains trying to wipe out all tracies of our Religious pass of Paganism
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
ToastyTea
says...
11:39am Mon 1 Oct 12
Inform Al
says...
12:39pm Mon 1 Oct 12
ToastyTea wrote:I trust you meant 1760s, these cretins are so out of touch it's no wonder the churches are emptying.
My goodness are we living in the 60's or something here, what is wrong with these religious people. Crazy the lot of em.
GrahamTheRetired
says...
1:09pm Mon 1 Oct 12
So glad the Churches don't have the power they had in the dark ages.
Stephen J
says...
1:14pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Vix1 wrote:Did you mean to say that you think it's a "...shame "Christians" in the UK are less protective of their own faith..."? A slip of the keyboard perhaps.
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
As it stands you suggest that "...people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures...". In which case, which faith should "UK people" should call their own? And which are the faiths of the "other cultures"? But as I say, I'm sure that's not what you were getting at.
Was it?
MGRA
says...
1:23pm Mon 1 Oct 12
MisterGrimsdale
says...
1:26pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Big Mac
says...
1:26pm Mon 1 Oct 12
southy wrote:Nice one Southy 'the majority in Britian are Atheists' and from which tomb of knowlwdge did you extract that 'fact'?
Vix1 wrote:We are not protective faiths, because the majority in Britian are Atheists, if we was a Religious bunch then all religious temples off any faith would be pack out, but the truth is they are near on empty.
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
Please share with us all.
CyberWarrior
says...
1:52pm Mon 1 Oct 12
MisterGrimsdale wrote:Hahahahahaha!! Glad to see you are treating this nonsense with the humourous contempt it deserves. Worth bearing in mind however, that it's the church and not the faith itself that riddled with hypocrisy.
Stretching is the devil's work. Good christians should always be hunched over.
I love Yoga because it's spritual, peaceful, calming and healthy. Not because I want to invoke bad or demonic spirits.
Georgem
says...
2:08pm Mon 1 Oct 12
CyberWarrior wrote:So if someone actually did want to invoke bad or demonic spirits, what would I, I mean he or she, have to do? Just in theory, of course.
MisterGrimsdale wrote:Hahahahahaha!! Glad to see you are treating this nonsense with the humourous contempt it deserves. Worth bearing in mind however, that it's the church and not the faith itself that riddled with hypocrisy.
Stretching is the devil's work. Good christians should always be hunched over.
I love Yoga because it's spritual, peaceful, calming and healthy. Not because I want to invoke bad or demonic spirits.
Stephen J
says...
2:20pm Mon 1 Oct 12
southy wrote:It may or may not be so that the majority in Britain are atheists, at least from a practical point of view. But it is not true that all places of worship are "near on empty". Many community churches are bursting at the seams with a good number of them desperate to find or even build larger premises.
Vix1 wrote:We are not protective faiths, because the majority in Britian are Atheists, if we was a Religious bunch then all religious temples off any faith would be pack out, but the truth is they are near on empty.
What has loving and caring got to do with yoga??????? The church is standing up for it's principles the same as any other religious group would! Shame people in the UK are less protective of their own faith than the faiths of other cultures!! These sessions shouldn't be allowed in church as I mentioned on the last story. It's about time that as Christians we were allowed to assert the principles of our faith!! Good on you!!
solomum
says...
4:17pm Mon 1 Oct 12
davel_cats wrote:It is sad if membership at your church is in decline. The one I attend is heaving every Sunday and growing considerably. This is the same for many churches that I know of.
As a Christian, I find it sad that churches are banning yoga, for a couple reasons. Membership at churches is in a severe decline, so anything to get people physically in the door should be encouraged. Once inside, they might think: 'this is not such a bad place, maybe I'll come back on Sunday.' But if they are outside in the street, they can not experience the welcoming attitude inside (noticeboards of other church activities, for a start). Meditation is a part of my Christian worship, not only in church but in many aspects of my life. I believe in one God, and have found peace and comfort in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as well as in Christian churches.
Inform Al
says...
4:41pm Mon 1 Oct 12
solomum wrote:As a lad I was a choirboy in a very large victorian church in Paddington, after I moved away the church was demolished and large blocks of flats built on the site, the new chuch took up less than one fifth of the original area. I have no idea if this smaller church ever gets packed but last Christmas following my belief that if I don't grow up I will not grow old I went to what had as a child been my favourate service in a very large church that used to be packed to capacity, Midnight Mass. I was so disappointed as the fairly small church on the Flower Roads was less than half full.
davel_cats wrote:It is sad if membership at your church is in decline. The one I attend is heaving every Sunday and growing considerably. This is the same for many churches that I know of.
As a Christian, I find it sad that churches are banning yoga, for a couple reasons. Membership at churches is in a severe decline, so anything to get people physically in the door should be encouraged. Once inside, they might think: 'this is not such a bad place, maybe I'll come back on Sunday.' But if they are outside in the street, they can not experience the welcoming attitude inside (noticeboards of other church activities, for a start). Meditation is a part of my Christian worship, not only in church but in many aspects of my life. I believe in one God, and have found peace and comfort in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as well as in Christian churches.
solomum
says...
5:23pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Inform Al wrote:Try going on a Sunday and seeing how full they are. A lot of people, particularly the elderly and those with young children will not attend Midnight Mass due to the very nature of the timing of it.
solomum wrote:As a lad I was a choirboy in a very large victorian church in Paddington, after I moved away the church was demolished and large blocks of flats built on the site, the new chuch took up less than one fifth of the original area. I have no idea if this smaller church ever gets packed but last Christmas following my belief that if I don't grow up I will not grow old I went to what had as a child been my favourate service in a very large church that used to be packed to capacity, Midnight Mass. I was so disappointed as the fairly small church on the Flower Roads was less than half full.
davel_cats wrote:It is sad if membership at your church is in decline. The one I attend is heaving every Sunday and growing considerably. This is the same for many churches that I know of.
As a Christian, I find it sad that churches are banning yoga, for a couple reasons. Membership at churches is in a severe decline, so anything to get people physically in the door should be encouraged. Once inside, they might think: 'this is not such a bad place, maybe I'll come back on Sunday.' But if they are outside in the street, they can not experience the welcoming attitude inside (noticeboards of other church activities, for a start). Meditation is a part of my Christian worship, not only in church but in many aspects of my life. I believe in one God, and have found peace and comfort in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as well as in Christian churches.
forest hump
says...
7:52pm Mon 1 Oct 12
Mr E wrote:Yoga! smarter than the average bear! or may the farce be with you!
if Yoga is getting this many bans , i might just take it up!
Inform Al
says...
9:28pm Mon 1 Oct 12
solomum wrote:Thats weird, it was the timing of it that made it so popular. Don't do Sundays I have better things to do.
Inform Al wrote:Try going on a Sunday and seeing how full they are. A lot of people, particularly the elderly and those with young children will not attend Midnight Mass due to the very nature of the timing of it.
solomum wrote:As a lad I was a choirboy in a very large victorian church in Paddington, after I moved away the church was demolished and large blocks of flats built on the site, the new chuch took up less than one fifth of the original area. I have no idea if this smaller church ever gets packed but last Christmas following my belief that if I don't grow up I will not grow old I went to what had as a child been my favourate service in a very large church that used to be packed to capacity, Midnight Mass. I was so disappointed as the fairly small church on the Flower Roads was less than half full.
davel_cats wrote:It is sad if membership at your church is in decline. The one I attend is heaving every Sunday and growing considerably. This is the same for many churches that I know of.
As a Christian, I find it sad that churches are banning yoga, for a couple reasons. Membership at churches is in a severe decline, so anything to get people physically in the door should be encouraged. Once inside, they might think: 'this is not such a bad place, maybe I'll come back on Sunday.' But if they are outside in the street, they can not experience the welcoming attitude inside (noticeboards of other church activities, for a start). Meditation is a part of my Christian worship, not only in church but in many aspects of my life. I believe in one God, and have found peace and comfort in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as well as in Christian churches.
fairdinkum
says...
9:41am Tue 2 Oct 12
aldermoorboy says...
8:06am Mon 1 Oct 12
Religious leaders should re think these decisions.
We should all show respect for all caring people.