Nepal Is Making Yoga Classes Mandatory for School Children

Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Nepal’s education minister, said, “Yoga is our ancient science. We want students to learn it, and we think this is the right time.”

Nepal’s Muslim community, however, has vowed to oppose the mandatory program if the yoga classes include Hindu religious practises like the 12 poses of the sun salutation, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya, or chanting “om.”

But the Nepali government insists that there is no hidden Hindu agenda and that the classes will promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Ganesh Bhattarai, the director of Nepal’s Curriculum Development Center, explained that students can choose to skip chanting “om” and the sun salutations if they wish.

Nepal would be the first country in the world to make yoga a mandatory subject in schools.