In a shocking development from the UK, St. Andrew’s in Dibden won’t allow an elderly grandmother to teach yoga on its premises on the grounds that yoga has its roots in Hinduism.

What is the matter with this church, one wonders? Where is its sense of inclusion, of diversity, of being “spiritual but not religious”, of there being many ways to the Father? Entirely absent, it seems: if I lived in Dibden, I would attend St. Andrew’s.

From here:

THE Anglican Church has been dragged into the yoga controversy – by banning an 81-year- old Christian fitness instructor from holding classes at a Hampshire church hall.

Despite being retired for more than 20 years, Eileen Meegan tirelessly teaches yoga for four hours a week – making sure pensioners socialise, keep supple and are de-stressed.

But the Daily Echo can today reveal that St Andrew’s C of E Church in Dibden Purlieu has banned her classes from its premises.

It joins the Roman Catholic St Edmund’s Church in Southampton which banned yoga teacher Cori Withell from its hall, saying her classes were not compatible with the Catholic faith.