(ANSA) - NEW YORK, MARCH 13 - Students from Alabama could soon return to practicing yoga without having to hide: the important thing is not to say 'namaste'.
With 73 votes in favor and 25 against, the state parliament approved a measure to remove the 28-year ban on yoga in public schools.
It was in fact 1993 when the Alabama Board of Education banned it in the wake of opposition from conservative groups on its Hindu roots.
The approved measure then reopens yoga as long as chants and words such as 'namaste' are excluded.
"No measure is perfect," said Congressman Jeremy Gray, the promoter of the measure.
"What interests me is the quadrogenerale, or making yoga accessible in public schools," he adds.
Despite the go-ahead of parliament and the vast popularity of yoga, many conservative groups criticize the measure as believing that children are influential and if they are taught yoga, then they can go to Google and find information on its spiritual aspects.
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