| Recently, I ran into a case in which a Hatha Yoga | | | | It is the morality of this issue that should concern us |
| teacher, who had been teaching for years, was being | | | | all. It is hard to imagine being blind every day, with so |
| refused from a Hatha Yoga teacher training course. | | | | many things that most of us take for granted. |
| Before anyone gets stirred up over this, and the Act | | | | If you want to take a short tour of what it feels like |
| on the Affairs of the Handicapped, in the United | | | | to be blind, close your eyes, and within minutes your |
| States, this story gets better. | | | | other senses will improve. Did you ever notice your |
| His wife is also a Hatha Yoga teacher, and they | | | | hearing improves, when you try to meditate? Try to |
| teach Yoga classes as a team. Yet, he was still | | | | move around without opening your eyes, but use |
| refused the opportunity for certification as a Hatha | | | | caution. |
| Yoga teacher. At this point, you might be thinking of | | | | When you shut off one of your senses, the rest of |
| the legality of refusing anyone an equal opportunity. I | | | | your senses will become sharper, as a result of your |
| am not an attorney, but this sounds like a viable case | | | | "handicap." A blind Yoga teacher will most likely have |
| to me. | | | | better cueing skills than most of us. With another |
| Do you think that the Yoga organization, which | | | | Yoga teacher in the room, to assist, a student would |
| refused this gentleman the right to participate in their | | | | get "the best of both worlds." |
| Yoga teacher training course, consulted their attorney | | | | This is why we have laws that protect all of us from |
| before making such a decision? Honestly, I doubt it, | | | | discrimination. Sometimes, we think that common |
| and the idea of a Yoga organization showing | | | | sense should rule our society, but as you know, it |
| discriminatory judgment goes against the purpose of | | | | does not always work that way. Everyone should |
| Yoga. | | | | make an honest effort to understand others. |
| Yoga means union or unity. Where is the "unity" in | | | | We do not have to agree on every issue, but |
| discrimination? Discrimination originates from a closed | | | | different viewpoints, that work together, make a |
| mind. Discrimination works closely with intolerance and | | | | healthier and creative world around us. If a blind man |
| can lead to unjustified acceptance of blatant lies, or | | | | has a desire to become a certified Yoga teacher, |
| worse. | | | | who has the moral right to refuse him? |