Signed by Governor Kay Ivey

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes public schools to teach yoga.

Highlights:

• Authorizes every local Board of Education to choose whether or not schools in their district can teach yoga to students in grades K-12, as long as the following conditions are met (Sec. 1):

• Requires that yoga only be offered as an elective activity for students;

• Requires that alternative activities be offered to students who do not want to participate in yoga;

• Requires all instruction in yoga be limited to poses, exercises, and stretching techniques;

• Requires all poses taught to be limited exclusively to sitting, standing, reclining, twisting, and balancing;

• Requires only English names be used for all poses, exercises, and stretching techniques; and

• Prohibits chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, and namaste greetings.

• Requires the parent or legal guardian of a student who decides to participate in yoga to be provided with a permission slip, which is to be signed by the parent or legal guardian, and returned to the school (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any school personnel from teaching any techniques that involve hypnosis, the induction of a dissociative mental state, guided imagery, meditation, or any aspect of Eastern philosophy and religious training in which meditation and contemplation are joined with physical exercises to facilitate the development of body, mind, and spirit (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes public schools to teach yoga.

Highlights:

• Authorizes every local Board of Education to choose whether or not schools in their district can teach yoga to students in grades K-12, as long as the following conditions are met (Sec. 1):

• Requires that yoga only be offered as an elective activity for students;

• Requires that alternative activities be offered to students who do not want to participate in yoga;

• Requires all instruction in yoga be limited to poses, exercises, and stretching techniques;

• Requires all poses taught to be limited exclusively to sitting, standing, reclining, twisting, and balancing;

• Requires only English names be used for all poses, exercises, and stretching techniques; and

• Prohibits chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, and namaste greetings.

• Requires the parent or legal guardian of a student who decides to participate in yoga to be provided with a permission slip, which is to be signed by the parent or legal guardian, and returned to the school (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any school personnel from teaching any techniques that involve hypnosis, the induction of a dissociative mental state, guided imagery, meditation, or any aspect of Eastern philosophy and religious training in which meditation and contemplation are joined with physical exercises to facilitate the development of body, mind, and spirit (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text