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Supporters Make Case for Yoga Center

Daily Herald, USA
Jan. 1, 2006
Jack Komperda, Daily Herald Staff Writer
www.dailyherald.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Saturday January 7, 2006

The Internal Revenue Service classifies Mike Khetarpal’s yoga center as a religion.

And about 30 members came Thursday to help convince DuPage County zoning officials of the legitimacy of the Hindu sect called Yog Sadhan.

But those officials will wait until next month to decide whether to recommend that DuPage County recognize Khetarpal’s 5-acre property along St. Charles Road as a place of worship.

Khetarpal and his wife are asking the county to classify his home as a spiritual teaching facility for the center, named Yog Sadhan Ashram.

The property lies in an unincorporated area just outside Carol Stream’s borders and sits down the road from the Benjamin Elementary District 25 campus.

The ashram, or spiritual sanctuary, would accommodate up to 20 students for two-hour nightly services, and larger weekend events that incorporate training in yoga, meditation and spiritual practices.

But the village of Carol Stream, Benjamin school officials and some neighbors oppose the idea, citing hazy details presented about the yoga center’s operation and concerns over increased traffic in the area.

Despite the opposition, it isn’t clear whether the entities can prevent the Khetarpals from hosting any sort of spiritual events at their home, with or without the county designation.

DuPage County doesn’t have specific guidelines regulating spiritual practices in a private residence.

Scott Pointner, the Khetarpals’ lawyer, said the couple is seeking county recognition of the center as a religious institution to ensure the uses of the ashram are clearly defined. “We’re trying to stay transparent through this whole process,” he said. “We’re not looking to build a mega-church where hundreds of people will worship … just peace and quiet.”

Pointner told zoning officials the ashram would limit its attendance to 20 people during the week, 40 participants on the weekends, and 100 on a handful of special events.

Still, some county zoning officials had a problem with the lack of specifics as to what exactly the sessions would entail. The zoning board is expected to vote on the request Feb. 9.