May 2, 2024 • 10 mins
Welcome to "Inhale Unity," a podcast where we dive deep into the significance and transformative power of having a community for Black women in the yoga space. Each episode, we explore the intersection of culture, wellness, and empowerment, shedding light on why inclusive communities within yoga are not just beneficial but essential.
From historical contexts to modern-day practices, we dissect the barriers that Black women face in mainstream yoga studios and the profound benefits when those barriers are broken down. Join us as we speak with yoga instructors, community leaders, and wellness activists who are pioneering spaces where Black women can thrive in their practice.
We'll discuss the emotional support and cultural relevance that a strong community provides, and how this can lead to better health outcomes and a deeper sense of belonging. Through interviews, case studies, and heartfelt stories, "Inhale Unity" aims to inspire, inform, and ignite a conversation about inclusivity and the empowering force of community in the yoga world.
Tune in to understand why creating and nurturing these spaces is crucial and discover ways you can contribute to making yoga a more welcoming and inclusive practice for everyone. Join us on the journey to breathe, stretch, and grow together in unity.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Hey everybody, and welcome to thisweek's episode of the Black Croni Yoga Podcast.
I am your host, Ashley,founder and CEO of Black crowniy Yoga
magazine and Black Cronia Yoga and Poll. We are super excited for this week's
episode. We are talking about theimportance of building community in the yoga and
wellness space, specifically for black women. So the practice of yoga itself does
(00:27):
lend itself to a holistic experience focusingon mental, physical, and spiritual health
and your overall wellbeing, and it'sreally important within that space that you can
connect to other people that have sharedexperiences. However, I found that that
can be very hard to do dueto the lack of representation within the space.
(00:52):
Sometimes you just need to see someonereflected back to you, someone that
looks like you reflected back to youto know that they get it without you
having to give all the pre andpost samples. Sometimes just that bit ahead
nod, getting an opportunity to wapsomebody up, give them a hug,
you know, saying something like youhaven't seen them in a minute, they
know exactly what you're talking about.That goes a long way and building that
(01:17):
community and connection. So what happensin the Western world, or what has
been happening in the Western world isit's predominantly is that yoga itself is predominantly
marketed to white, affluent demographic witha specific body type, with a specific
income, living in a specific place, and that level of marketing or that
(01:42):
marketing ploy has essentially created a barrierthat ostracizes other people, just people in
general, not only black women,but just people in general. In addition,
what happens when yoga is marketed specificallyin affluent areas is it creates a
barrier that is built off of cost, and it creates an additional barrier or
(02:05):
further compounds the additional barrier that lackof representation has already made in the space.
So, even though these wellness practicesare so beneficial to black women,
to people of color as a whole, what we have been told and or
shown is that this isn't for youand or that feeling of we don't want
(02:27):
you here. So the benefit tohaving a community of black women supporting other
black women within the yoga space isthat it offers a place for emotional support,
sharing the space with people that looklike you from a similar cultural background
and experiences. Leads to an opportunityto find comfort. As I said before,
(02:49):
like that simple head nod being tappedup before a class, that feels
good, and it allows space forcultural relevance to exist within your practice while
you're on your mat, while you'rein your yoga session, making it a
more profound and personal and meaningful experience. In addition, it has the benefit
(03:10):
it has the additional benefit of creatingan opportunity for safety to exist further in
the space because it reduces a feelingof isolation and alienation that can happen when
you're in a predominantly white space.Even though the majority of us know how
to assimilate those of us who areat our big age, in our grown
(03:32):
grown we know how to play theassimilation game. However, in a yoga
class, you don't want to dothat. You want to be able to
come in and put your mat downand drop into the class, drop into
the body without having to worry aboutthe additional stress that supremacy can create,
(03:52):
or being an environment where you're theonly can create for you want the opportunity
to be able to put some ofthat down. So, in addition,
to how important the community is.You're already coming in with a host of
health issues or health concerns or ahealthcare system. I should say that it's
(04:15):
stacked against you due to the disparitiesthat already exists within the healthcare space.
So for the space to yoga spaceto kind of feel like a place where
those issues can be compounded, becausenow not only do you not have access
to quality health outcomes and other disparities, but the place that you're supposed to
find your wellness or find yourself orconnect with decompression and stress does not feel
(04:41):
welcoming. So it's really important thatwhen you join a yoga community or get
the opportunity to connect with the yogacommunity, that within that you find your
tribe, because the finding of yourtribe can have a significant impact on supporting
your over health. Not just incommunity and connection and having friends and being
(05:03):
a part of a sister circle,but this can have overall overarching benefits to
your healthpan to your experience of yourown wellness and experience in connection with your
family and your friends and your practice. It can just have extending benefits that
(05:23):
go beyond just being in that class. In addition, you get support and
guidance that is tailor made or thatis more likely to be tailored to your
body type. I cannot tell youhow many times that have gone to classes
and been given cues that just don'twork for me because I have an asina
(05:45):
back there and my body don't looklike that. So inadvertently my body may
not have access to that particular pose. And for those of us who may
be a little more fluffy than not, some of those poses are not getting
in a manner that are accessible toall body types as they should be.
(06:06):
So it's really important to connect withcommunity because it gives you an opportunity once
again to have you reflected back toyou, and it gives you an opportunity
to see what's possible. So buildingcommunity and connecting with other folks that look
(06:26):
like you, other women that looklike you, it has a connotation of
empowering you in a way that youmay not know that you needed. One
of the biggest benefits that I've gottenas a yoga teacher and doing yoga teacher
training after at this point I've trainedover five thousand students have come through the
(06:46):
program, I did not realize howmuch I needed the community as much as
the community needed me to show upand teach it. I just cannot express
how profound of an impact it hasbeen my life to realize, oh yeah,
I need to be poured into inthis way as well, not just
as a teacher, but also asa continuing excuse me, a student that
(07:13):
is continuing in her own practice.And it can be challenging, you know,
it can be challenging to find placesin spaces where you fit and where
you have an opportunity to connect.However, the cool thing is we got
access to the internet these days.So even if there isn't a studio within
your community that meets your needs,that is what you're looking for, That
(07:38):
is your vibe, is your tribethat you can like kind of kick it
with. There's nothing that stops youfrom getting online and reaching out to communities
that look like you, that offerwhat you're looking for in a yoga experience,
that offer what you are looking forin a yoga class. So let
(07:58):
me be the first for those whoare looking for community to extend an invitation
to join our community. Ninety fivepercent of the teachers that we have created
and that I've come through our program, our Black women I'm very proud to
say that ninety five percent of ourcommunity is made up of black women,
and it is so so very veryimportant to me and something that I completely
(08:26):
cherish on a level that I don'teven think I have words for at this
point, what has come out ofthis and the teachers that we have been
able to put out into the world. So even if you're coming to us
and you're like, I just wantto be a student and kick it with
cool people, bet, this isdefinitely the place to be for you.
(08:46):
So the way that you can pluginto our community. If you're looking for
a class that you want to take. On Wednesdays at six pm Eastern online,
we teach a hip hop yoga class. I lead that class still,
and it's meant to be ald tocommunity, to get your body moving,
to maybe to work a little some, shake a little some. Maybe you
might come in for the entire classand lay in your mat and shavasna and
(09:09):
just vibe to the tunes. I'mhere for all of it, for all
of it. This is a placewhere we offer you a space for peace,
relaxation, community connection, and weget a little ratchet too. So
if you are truly looking for acommunity that is going to lift you up,
love on you, and give yousome yoga vibes as well. Definitely
(09:33):
tap in to our hip hop Yogaclass that is on Wednesdays at six pm
Eastern, totally online experience. Youcan find out more about this class by
going to the Blackprana dot com orif you want to check out our Instagram,
go to Black Prana Yoga Magazine onig. I'll put all of the
(09:56):
info in the show notes so youcan connect directly to our class. You
can find all the info there andsign up. We would love to have
you join us. We look forwardto continuing to build community on our continuing
to offer this space for you tosee you reflected back to you. All
right, I hope that helps somebody. Y'all be easy, enjoy the rest
of your day.
Hey everybody, and welcome to thisweek's episode of the Black Croni Yoga Podcast.
I am your host, Ashley,founder and CEO of Black crowniy Yoga
magazine and Black Cronia Yoga and Poll. We are super excited for this week's
episode. We are talking about theimportance of building community in the yoga and
wellness space, specifically for black women. So the practice of yoga itself does
(00:27):
lend itself to a holistic experience focusingon mental, physical, and spiritual health
and your overall wellbeing, and it'sreally important within that space that you can
connect to other people that have sharedexperiences. However, I found that that
can be very hard to do dueto the lack of representation within the space.
(00:52):
Sometimes you just need to see someonereflected back to you, someone that
looks like you reflected back to youto know that they get it without you
having to give all the pre andpost samples. Sometimes just that bit ahead
nod, getting an opportunity to wapsomebody up, give them a hug,
you know, saying something like youhaven't seen them in a minute, they
know exactly what you're talking about.That goes a long way and building that
(01:17):
community and connection. So what happensin the Western world, or what has
been happening in the Western world isit's predominantly is that yoga itself is predominantly
marketed to white, affluent demographic witha specific body type, with a specific
income, living in a specific place, and that level of marketing or that
(01:42):
marketing ploy has essentially created a barrierthat ostracizes other people, just people in
general, not only black women,but just people in general. In addition,
what happens when yoga is marketed specificallyin affluent areas is it creates a
barrier that is built off of cost, and it creates an additional barrier or
(02:05):
further compounds the additional barrier that lackof representation has already made in the space.
So, even though these wellness practicesare so beneficial to black women,
to people of color as a whole, what we have been told and or
shown is that this isn't for youand or that feeling of we don't want
(02:27):
you here. So the benefit tohaving a community of black women supporting other
black women within the yoga space isthat it offers a place for emotional support,
sharing the space with people that looklike you from a similar cultural background
and experiences. Leads to an opportunityto find comfort. As I said before,
(02:49):
like that simple head nod being tappedup before a class, that feels
good, and it allows space forcultural relevance to exist within your practice while
you're on your mat, while you'rein your yoga session, making it a
more profound and personal and meaningful experience. In addition, it has the benefit
(03:10):
it has the additional benefit of creatingan opportunity for safety to exist further in
the space because it reduces a feelingof isolation and alienation that can happen when
you're in a predominantly white space.Even though the majority of us know how
to assimilate those of us who areat our big age, in our grown
(03:32):
grown we know how to play theassimilation game. However, in a yoga
class, you don't want to dothat. You want to be able to
come in and put your mat downand drop into the class, drop into
the body without having to worry aboutthe additional stress that supremacy can create,
(03:52):
or being an environment where you're theonly can create for you want the opportunity
to be able to put some ofthat down. So, in addition,
to how important the community is.You're already coming in with a host of
health issues or health concerns or ahealthcare system. I should say that it's
(04:15):
stacked against you due to the disparitiesthat already exists within the healthcare space.
So for the space to yoga spaceto kind of feel like a place where
those issues can be compounded, becausenow not only do you not have access
to quality health outcomes and other disparities, but the place that you're supposed to
find your wellness or find yourself orconnect with decompression and stress does not feel
(04:41):
welcoming. So it's really important thatwhen you join a yoga community or get
the opportunity to connect with the yogacommunity, that within that you find your
tribe, because the finding of yourtribe can have a significant impact on supporting
your over health. Not just incommunity and connection and having friends and being
(05:03):
a part of a sister circle,but this can have overall overarching benefits to
your healthpan to your experience of yourown wellness and experience in connection with your
family and your friends and your practice. It can just have extending benefits that
(05:23):
go beyond just being in that class. In addition, you get support and
guidance that is tailor made or thatis more likely to be tailored to your
body type. I cannot tell youhow many times that have gone to classes
and been given cues that just don'twork for me because I have an asina
(05:45):
back there and my body don't looklike that. So inadvertently my body may
not have access to that particular pose. And for those of us who may
be a little more fluffy than not, some of those poses are not getting
in a manner that are accessible toall body types as they should be.
(06:06):
So it's really important to connect withcommunity because it gives you an opportunity once
again to have you reflected back toyou, and it gives you an opportunity
to see what's possible. So buildingcommunity and connecting with other folks that look
(06:26):
like you, other women that looklike you, it has a connotation of
empowering you in a way that youmay not know that you needed. One
of the biggest benefits that I've gottenas a yoga teacher and doing yoga teacher
training after at this point I've trainedover five thousand students have come through the
(06:46):
program, I did not realize howmuch I needed the community as much as
the community needed me to show upand teach it. I just cannot express
how profound of an impact it hasbeen my life to realize, oh yeah,
I need to be poured into inthis way as well, not just
as a teacher, but also asa continuing excuse me, a student that
(07:13):
is continuing in her own practice.And it can be challenging, you know,
it can be challenging to find placesin spaces where you fit and where
you have an opportunity to connect.However, the cool thing is we got
access to the internet these days.So even if there isn't a studio within
your community that meets your needs,that is what you're looking for, That
(07:38):
is your vibe, is your tribethat you can like kind of kick it
with. There's nothing that stops youfrom getting online and reaching out to communities
that look like you, that offerwhat you're looking for in a yoga experience,
that offer what you are looking forin a yoga class. So let
(07:58):
me be the first for those whoare looking for community to extend an invitation
to join our community. Ninety fivepercent of the teachers that we have created
and that I've come through our program, our Black women I'm very proud to
say that ninety five percent of ourcommunity is made up of black women,
and it is so so very veryimportant to me and something that I completely
(08:26):
cherish on a level that I don'teven think I have words for at this
point, what has come out ofthis and the teachers that we have been
able to put out into the world. So even if you're coming to us
and you're like, I just wantto be a student and kick it with
cool people, bet, this isdefinitely the place to be for you.
(08:46):
So the way that you can pluginto our community. If you're looking for
a class that you want to take. On Wednesdays at six pm Eastern online,
we teach a hip hop yoga class. I lead that class still,
and it's meant to be ald tocommunity, to get your body moving,
to maybe to work a little some, shake a little some. Maybe you
might come in for the entire classand lay in your mat and shavasna and
(09:09):
just vibe to the tunes. I'mhere for all of it, for all
of it. This is a placewhere we offer you a space for peace,
relaxation, community connection, and weget a little ratchet too. So
if you are truly looking for acommunity that is going to lift you up,
love on you, and give yousome yoga vibes as well. Definitely
(09:33):
tap in to our hip hop Yogaclass that is on Wednesdays at six pm
Eastern, totally online experience. Youcan find out more about this class by
going to the Blackprana dot com orif you want to check out our Instagram,
go to Black Prana Yoga Magazine onig. I'll put all of the
(09:56):
info in the show notes so youcan connect directly to our class. You
can find all the info there andsign up. We would love to have
you join us. We look forwardto continuing to build community on our continuing
to offer this space for you tosee you reflected back to you. All
right, I hope that helps somebody. Y'all be easy, enjoy the rest
of your day.
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