Plan B Forum

Religious leaders have been accused of a lack of flexibility after evicting a yoga class from a church hall because of its links to "alternative spiritualities".


Teacher Naomi Hayama, 39, has been helping students stretch and relax with twice-weekly classes for the last nine years. But church chiefs have now decided the sessions are too "spiritual" - despite apparently never observing a class, which students claim has no religious content. Ms Hayama has until the end of the month to find a new home for her classes after the priest and the council at the church refused to back down. She said: "They are trying to say it is a spiritual practise but my classes are not.

"I respect people who are religious but I am not. That's what attracted me to yoga - you don't have to be religious to teach it. "My students are puzzled and outraged as well. "My class is a physical exercise which is about relaxation and breathing and it's a healthy thing to do." Ms Hayama teaches around 600 students at classes all over her home city of Bristol. But she has been told she is no longer welcome at St Michael and All Angels Church in the Bishopston, where she teaches around 30 pupils.

After hearing she was to be booted out, she collected more than 500 signatures pleading with the church council to change its decision. But Reverend James Stevenson and the Parish of Bishopston and St Andrew's decided the buildings should be used for Christian acts of worship and nothing of a spiritual nature "outside of Christ". Ms Hayama added: "The students enjoyed coming to the church and now being told they are not really welcome. "Many of them have written in to the church to try and change their minds but they are being really stubborn about it. "The decision was made without seeing my class, which is what I have a real problem with. "Seeing it and deciding it's not appropriate is one thing but to do no investigation and just talk about yoga's background is another."

Rev Stevenson, who claims half the UK's churches would prohibit yoga, said: "We understand yoga is practised as a physical exercise and discipline but it's definitely a spiritual act whose roots are not Christ centred. "We are confident we have acted legally and fairly in handling this matter but we understand why the students are upset. "One student of the class said everyone he had spoken to had viewed it as a ridiculous decision but every church leader I've spoken to completely understands this decision. "It is a beautiful building with under-floor heating - it's the perfect place for a yoga class and we understand that people are upset."

He added that Ms Hayama is a member of the British Wheel of Yoga - an organisation the priest says calls on followers to be taught the spiritual philosophy of yoga. He said that message was not "discredited" on Ms Hayama's website and added: "We think there will be lots of people who think we are not making a very nice decision but we are trying to make the decision in the nicest way possible." But locals are still upset, and took to the petition to voice their upset. Susan Blair, from Bristol wrote: "It is ridiculous! Yoga is yoga, it has nothing to do with religion! Let them continue to have their yoga lessons in your church. Why would you drive people away from God's home??" Ursula Dunne, from Glastonbury, added: "This is such a tragedy. Isn't it time for understanding and tolerance? "In terms of alternative spirituality it seems to me there are many paths to God not one only and most people attending a yoga class will go for the physical exercise and well-being. Saddest of all that an offer to observe a class was declined."

Why would you drive people away from God's home??

Econoline wrote:

Why would you drive people away from God's home??

This.

Parish of Bishopston & St Andrews
Yesterday at 4:41am ·

You may have read in the Bristol Evening Post about a decision by this parish’s council to cease bookings for a yoga class at St Michael’s.

All of our buildings are open to and used by a wide range of groups from the local community. The primary purpose of these buildings is the worship of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Yoga means the union of ‘mind, body and spirit’. By definition, therefore, Yoga is a spiritual activity whose roots are not Christ centred.

We are confident we have acted legally and have waived the last 9 months of Naomi’s fees, amounting to nearly £1000. We are surprised at the actions currently being taken. Whilst we understand that Naomi would not agree with our decision, in December 2014 she informed us that we had reached an agreeable compromise with regard to her notice period.

Gob wrote:

Religious leaders have been accused of a lack of flexibility after evicting a yoga class from a church hall because of its links to "alternative spiritualities".


Rev Stevenson, who claims half the UK's churches would prohibit yoga..."

"... everyone he had spoken to had viewed it as a ridiculous decision but every church leader I've spoken to completely understands this decision. ..."

church chiefs have now decided the sessions are too "spiritual" - despite apparently never observing a class

You see? Not half, all of them.

Big RR wrote:"meade"--are "fees" the same as rent? If so, why would they have let her run up 9 moths arrears in her rent? It doesn't make much sense.......

......If they never saw a class, exactly what are they basing their conclusion on?

Yoga means the union of ‘mind, body and spirit’. By definition, therefore, Yoga is a spiritual activity whose roots are not Christ centred

MajGenl.Meade wrote:I wonder if the unpaid rent caused any concern?

Parish of Bishopston & St Andrews
We are confident we have acted legally and have waived the last 9 months of Naomi’s fees, amounting to nearly £1000. We are surprised at the actions currently being taken. Whilst we understand that Naomi would not agree with our decision, in December 2014 she informed us that we had reached an agreeable compromise with regard to her notice period.

We would never say to anyone 'you must not do yoga' but it has an alternative spirituality. I'm sure it has lots of health benefits but we have to have integrity about how we use our worship spaces.

There will be Christians who disagree with us but this is a view that's widely held by many Christians and the Diocese of Bristol have said they full support our decision and that yoga sits uncomfortably in a consecrated space.

– REVEREND WAYNE MASSEY

Church fees for use of space aren't generally considered the same way that rent is - they are often waived, for instance, in case-specific circumstances