I question whether we are diluting the real practice of yoga.  Recently, the afterschool program at my kids elementary school was holding yoga classes for children.  I thought it was a great idea.  Having an ADHD child myself, I thought that maybe meditation would help.  But if we reduce yoga down to a fitness exercise are we diluting what the practice is all about.  It is more than just going from pose to pose and learning to stretch your body.  Isn't ist about learning to stretch your mind as well.

As my Yoga teacher tells us frequently, Yoga is not exercise, but the connection of body and mind.

 

Omitting this perspective makes what your child is doing simply exercise, but not Yoga.

http://www.lime.com/blog/savasthi/7908/stress. On LIMES homepage today, this article appeared on stress.  Stress affects all of us, children included.  We need to not only be exercising our bodies, but our minds as well.  We need to help our kids find ways in which they can help minimize the stress in their everyday lives. I  think yoga may be a way that kids can take a minute and "just be". We can't ignore that stress is a problem that never goes away.  It is all in how you manage it.  

I just can't believe some people! Teaching something that is 100% beneficial to young people cannot be misconstrued into anything but that, help. I don't understand why people just can't be open to something new...everyone needs to take what they need from things like yoga, leave what they don't like, and that is that. People shouldn't be in the philosophical position that yoga encourages people to explore other religions or mysticism...that's just downright fear for the unknown. That 80 year old dude should just try it and he will see that kids LIKE doing yoga...yoga is something that everyone has the power to do! It brings out the better in everyone! People simply make the choice to bring those aspects of human beings into the forefront!

I love yoga...my kids love yoga and I have not a single problem with schools that teach yoga. Differing opinions, to me, are simply motivated by fear of something that is not understood!

You would think that schools would welcome anything that would calm kids down and make them more productive.  I agree with your comments, but on the other hand, many parents are very, very critical of all choices made by the school boards and micomanage all areas of their childrens lives.  I have witnessed it with two boys in elementary school.  It is a shame that new ideas take so long to catch on and that people are frightened by the unknown.