National Museum to 'listen and evaluate' after public reaction to yoga classes

The National Museum of the Philippines on Tuesday assured they are taking into account the public reaction to their newly offered yoga classes.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, Director General Jeremy Barnes said that they launched the "Yoga at the Museum" project because October is Museum and Galleries Month. The yoga and meditation classes, held at the Spoliarum Hall, follow the theme “Exhibits and Reflections: Crafting Opportunities for the New World.”

Given that October is also Mental Health Awareness Month, Barnes said they "put the two together."

"We said, let’s promote wellness," he said. "Let’s promote yung spirituality and well-being, and yoga, and ilagay natin sa isang meaningful na lugar dito sa loob ng museum to promote itong idea na itong museum is a place for mental health, for spiritual improvement."

“It was something new, experimental,” he added. “We didn’t expect a strong reaction. We thought people would say, ‘Oh okay, nakakaiba.’ But you know, we take note.”

Barnes said that the museum team importance to all kinds of feedback.

“We thank the public for thinking about it and showing us their concern," he said. "We thank the people who are on all sides of the issue.”

“So, we are gonna listen to you and we are gonna evaluate kung successful ba itong idea o hindi, whether it’s really for us dito sa Pilipinas o hindi naman kahit popular na ito sa ibang bansa,” he added.  “So we’re here to listen, there’s no wrong or unwanted opinion."

The first session of “Yog at the Museum" was kicked off on October 4. 

It received mixed reactions online. Some netizens appreciated the museum for trying something new and marrying the arts with spirituality. Others, meanwhile, said exercising inside the Spoliarium Hall is a form of disrespect towards Juan Luna’s iconic piece, and the humidity may affect the painting.

National Museum has yet to announce any possible yoga schedules. —JCB, GMA Integrated News