Hinduism-based Origins of Yoga
A group of Hindus and human rights fighting for pluralism & secular society are critical of École Christine-Lesperance (ECL), a francophone elementary school in Winnipeg (Canada) under Franco-Manitoban School Division (DSFM), for reportedly renaming its “yoga” class as “movement” class. Some human rights activists came on social media to speak about the double-standards against Hindus and the growing cultural appropriation of Hinduism-based practices. One human rights activist tweeted “Would Canada or any western nation renaming Christmas(Christ-Mass) to ‘Tree & Lights Festival’ – I think not!”. Another activist tweeted explaining how renaming YOGA is plain stupid and is like renaming Karate or Kung-Fu to ‘Action Fighting’.
American-based Hindu community leader Rajan Zed said that although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, yoga was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. Yoga, referred as “a living fossil” whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, was for everybody to share and benefit from.
According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to an estimate, about 21 million Americans, including many celebrities, now practice yoga. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.
Rajan Zed asked Why this Winnipeg elementary school was shy of calling “yoga” as “yoga”, which was so beneficial for all and so popular? Zed urged ECL and DSFM to rethink on this issue and revert back to “yoga”, the earlier name of the class. With the growing trend of Hinduphobia, this event could be seen as another attack against Hindus, in the wake of recent attacks against Hindus around the world.
The DSFM, which offers full-time education in French, has 23 schools with over 5,000 students.