Dear Headteacher

During the Passover Half Term I took (Daughter) and (classmate) to the Cotswolds. We entered a Library and (classmate) ran over to an adult book about Yoga which was on display and enthusiastically looked through it. I asked her how at her age (10) she even knew about Yoga. "We do it in PE at School" She replied. (Daughter) was sheepish in confirming this as it is one of many subjects I have taken time to give reasons why it is not something to be involved with, especially as they are Christians. I take (my Daughter and her classmate) to Sunday School in Stony Stratford.

Please withdraw (Daughter) from all further Yoga lessons including any New Age meditation, Centring, or such like.

I understand many in the west are ignorant of what Yoga REALLY is so I've quoted below from books I have on the subject to clarify my position.

"This is a serious decision. Yoga is not a trifling jest if we consider that any misunderstanding in the practice of Yoga can mean death or insanity. That a misunderstood Yoga can be dangerous has been proven by many a student..." Hans-Ulrich Rieker author of The Yoga Of Light.

"Actually, the sanskrit root word for Yoga means "to yoke, to unite or to bind." It also means "union" or "communion". The whole point of Yoga is "Self-Realization"-that is, to experience your divinity as you yoke yourself to Brahman (the "Infinite", the "Universal Spirit," the impersonal force that the Hindus call "God"), thereby theoretically releasing yourself from the bondage of endless reincarnation. That is the ultimate aim of ALL Yoga"

"As author and TV Yoga teacher Richard Hittleman said, "The movements themselves become a form of meditation." The continued practice of the exercises will, whether you consciously intend it or not, eventually influence you toward an Eastern/mystical perspective. That is what it is meant to do! as Deborah Rozman has pointed out, "The real purpose of Yoga exercises is to put the body in a state where meditation on the One is possible." There is, by definition, no such thing as "neutral" Yoga. As Author Dave Hunt dryly observed during a lecture, "No Yoga is good Yoga."

"The practice of the postures, breathing techniques, and meditation exercises is designed to arouse powerful energies which the Yogis identify as the kundalini serpent force. Unless the devotee has meticulously prepared himself beforehand, those "energies" (which are in fact demonic beings) can indeed destroy him. The literature of Yoga is filled with warnings and case histories of illness, insanity, moral degeneration, and even death of those who practised Yoga, thereby arousing kundalini. Johanna Michaelsen Like Lambs To The Slaughter (Your Child and the Occult) & The Beautiful Side Of Evil.

In summary there is no such thing as Yoga for fitness/stretching only as the postures in themselves are prayers to Hindu gods!

I could go on and talk about transcendental, astral plane experience via vibrating at the correct frequency by making the OMM sound so prevalent in Yoga but I think the above more than enough information to prove my point!

I look forward to hearing from you on this serious matter which is a rare black mark on an otherwise outstanding School in my opinion.