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Yoga Center Facing Fight in Carol Stream

Daily Herald, USA
Dec. 15, 2005
Jack Komperda, Daily Herald Staff Writer
www.dailyherald.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Saturday December 17, 2005

Village Cite Traffic Concerns, Question Center’s Legitimacy

School and village officials in Carol Stream are getting bent out of shape over a tiny yoga center’s attempts to open shop near town.

Mike Khetarpal is petitioning DuPage County’s zoning board to operate a spiritual teaching facility named Yog Sadhan Ashram on his 5-acre property along St. Charles Road. The site is just outside the village’s borders and down the road from the Benjamin Elementary District 25 school campus.

The ashram, or spiritual sanctuary, would accommodate up to 10 students for two-hour nightly services, and some larger weekend events that incorporate training in yoga, meditation and spiritual practices.

But both the village of Carol Stream and Benjamin school officials oppose the idea, citing hazy details presented about the yoga center’s operation to county zoning officials last month.

“We know a little bit about what type of (place) it will be,” Trustee Pamela Fenner said. “But we don’t have the information we need to make an objective decision.”

Benjamin school officials fear the yoga center would only further congest traffic near the two-school district, which is nestled near the sites of two large churches.

The school campus – which consists of Evergreen Elementary and Benjamin Middle School – is across the street from Community Fellowship Church and down the road from the new home of Wheaton Bible Church at North Avenue and Morton Road.

In a letter sent last month to DuPage County zoning officials, Benjamin Superintendent Joseph Dubec also raised questions about the legitimacy of the center operating as a religious institution, which is what Khetarpal is seeking from county officials.

Such a designation could pull the yoga center’s property off the school district’s tax rolls.

“I understand they feel they’re a religious organization,” Dubec said. “But if you read their Web site, you’d think it’s an exercise group.”

Neither Khetarpal nor his attorney, Scott Pointner, could be reached for comment.

Yoga

Most westerners are naive to the religious origin and nature of yoga. Many practitioners who do, merely presume that the exercises are harmless if they are not practiced with a spiritual intent.

Yoga is a series of exercises and postures (asanas) which are advertised as a way to tone up, reduce stress and experience tranquility.

Yoga though is an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Swami Vishnudevananda, well known authority of Yoga, in his book The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga explains the purpose of Yoga, Ït is the duty of each developed man to train his body to the highest degree of perfection so that it may be used to pursue spiritual purposes… the aim of all yoga practice is to achieve truth wherein the individual soul identifies itself with the supreme soul of God.”
- Source: Yoga, a Profile by Watchman Fellowship

Research resources on Yoga

Paul Hoss, zoning coordinator for DuPage County, said zoning officials aren’t questioning whether Khetarpal’s facility would house a legitimate religion, but rather whether the site qualifies as a religious institution because his home also is on the property.

He added that Khetarpal told the county that the proposed yoga center is the only facility of its kind in the country to practice Yog Sadhan, which he said was a sect of Hinduism.

“It’s important for the board to decide … whether this crosses the threshold of a religious institution or is simply a prayer meeting at somebody’s home,” Hoss said.

Hoss said the zoning board of appeals will consider the opposition from both local government bodies before the advisory panel makes a decision, which is expected at its Jan. 5 meeting.

The board is expected to listen to updated plans from Khetarpal on the yoga center, such as traffic impact to the surrounding area and whether the center would indeed be tax-exempt if the county considers it a religious institution.