Alicia Dugar Stephenson (aka Afro Yoga Queen), our guest, shares the challenges and revelations she's encountered while intertwining her Christian faith with yoga. Diagnosed with lupus and faced with physical adversities, she transformed her pain into a passion for yoga that not only soothed her own discomfort but also ignited a mission to break barriers that have historically made yoga less accessible to communities of color.
Throughout this episode, we're exploring the pertinent question many have asked: Can yoga and Christianity coexist in harmony? Afro Yoga Queen makes a compelling case, drawing parallels between the discipline and awareness cultivated in yoga with the teachings of Christianity in the Black community. Our discussion challenges the perceived spiritual monopoly in yoga, and reveals the contributions of Black spirituality to the practice. If you have any Christian beliefs that keep you from doing yoga, you will probably learn quite a lot.
This Episode features Alicia Dugar Stephenson
Alicia Dugar Stephenson, ERYT500, initiated her transformative journey into the realm of yoga following a life-altering lupus diagnosis in 2009. Through this ancient practice, she found not just physical relief, but a holistic healing that reshaped her life's trajectory. With over 500 hours of specialized yogic certifications, Alicia directs yoga teacher training programs worldwide and lends her expertise to other institutions, including schools and corporations, enriching their training modules, curriculum and culture.
Alicia has been acknowledged by Rice University as a 'Gen Next 30 Under 30' for her innovative contributions, and received Congressional Recognition for pioneering new frontiers in yoga entrepreneurship. Her philosophy, "World Peace through Inner Peace," is a diplomatic approach to wellness that addresses individual transformation as the foundational stone for broader societal change.
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