Hindus have applauded Vernon Board of Education in Connecticut (USA) for approval of offering yoga to fourth graders in its Maple Street School, and have urged all schools in USA to do the same for their pupils. According to reports, Board of Education of Vernon Public Schools, in its February 25 meeting, approved the proposal to provide yoga Instruction to fourth grade children at Maple Street School in a 5-4 vote, with Chairperson Dean A. Houle favoring to break the tie. Calling it a “step in the right direction", distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, suggested all schools of the nation to incorporate yoga in the lives of the students, making it part of the curriculum. Yoga, referred as “a living fossil", was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed pointed out. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical. Rajan Zed noted that besides other benefits, yoga might also help deal with the obesity crisis faced by the country. According to United States National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. About 16 million Americans, including many celebrities, now reportedly practice yoga. It was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added. Dr. Mary P. Conway is Superintendent of Vernon Public Schools whose tagline is “in partnership with family and community” and which has 3461 students in seven schools. Dr. Lois Possell is Principal of Maple Street School whose tagline is “Where Future Heroes Are Made!” Female majority Town of Vernon, incorporated in 1808 and which calls itself “celebrated place”, is home to New England Civil War Museum. George F. Apel and John Ward are Mayor and Administrator of the Town, which is associated with singer Gene Pitney and football player Bill Romanowski. BN
