Thank you for contacting me about yoga.
I know that many people enjoy participating in yoga as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle. It is the responsibility of local authorities to commission services to enable healthy lifestyles in the community, but let me outline some of the measures the Government is taking to help people live healthier lives.
In September 2015, the Chief Executive of the NHS announced a new £5 million plan in a major drive to improve and support the health and wellbeing of 1.3 million NHS staff. This plan includes establishing and promoting a local physical activity 'offer' to staff, such as running yoga classes.
The Government wants all children to lead healthy and active lives and will be publishing its new childhood obesity strategy shortly. Schools and teachers are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils and I believe it is right that they have the freedom to decide if they want to use external programmes to help deliver their curriculum and to provide effective pastoral support.
The revenue from the new soft drinks industry levy will be used to double the Primary PE and Sport Premium for primary schools from £160 million a year to £320 million from September 2017. Primary schools will be able to make further improvements to the quality and breadth of PE, sport and physical activity opportunities they offer.