The update:
Yoga classes back at University of Ottawa after ‘appropriation’ debatehttp://cnews.canoe.com/CNEWS/Canada/2016/01/25/22597133.html
Nov 2015
Ottawa student leaders back away from ‘cultural issue’ yoga commentsWhat are you thoughts about yoga and cultural issue?
For me,??yoga as a great way to improve one’s self awareness, learn self care tools and reminds us to practice self regulation.
It helps people to learn to relax, decrease aches and pains, improves their entire physical and mental wellness.
Please read my article???Calm, Alert, and Ready to Learn: Preparing Children to Manage Stress?. ?View on line www.theholisticparent.ca page 22-24 (2015 WInter edition). To see photo?s of the poses visit http://www.theholisticparent.ca/#!Calm-Centred-Ready-to-Learn-Yoga-Poses/cah3/7C2A4B53-2C42-4DBD-B2A0-41C381224B46 or contact us for a copy of the magazine.)
=======
Ottawa student leaders back away from ‘cultural issue’ yoga comments
AEDAN HELMER, OTTAWA SUN
Nov 26, 2015
, Last Updated: 8:04 PM ET
Ottawa – With the suspension of a free yoga class for University of Ottawa students attracting international scrutiny, student leaders are backing away from comments that the class was shelved over ?cultural issues? with yoga.
As first reported by the Sun, the Student Federation decided to suspend the program, with SFUO president Romeo Ahimakin stating Friday their desire to make the program ?better, more accessible and more inclusive to certain groups of people that feel left out in yoga-like spaces …
?We are trying to have those sessions done in a way in which students are aware of where the spiritual and cultural aspects (of yoga) come from, so that these sessions are done in a respectful manner.?
In a statement on Facebook, the SFUO say the Sun report was a ?misrepresentation? of its true motivations, and suggest declining attendance was the real culprit, saying, ?We wanted to ensure that students? money and resources was being used in a responsible and efficient way.?
The statement adds, ?There were some real concerns about how yoga was not meeting the mandate of the centre, and serving the needs of students … with physical disabilities and mobility issues.?
The university?s Centre for Students with Disabilities had sponsored the class since 2008, which was attended by as many as 60 students, according to the instructor, both with and without disabilities. The CSD has disputed that number in a separate posting on its Facebook page.
The SFUO is also distancing itself from statements made in a lengthy email exchange between a CSD staff member, an official with the SFUO, and the yoga instructor, Jennifer Scharf, saying the statements in it are ?outdated and have led to a lot of miscommunication about our program.?
