Ashtanga Yoga Project

My mind was blown yesterday by the amazing conversations this post prompted. I got phone calls, e-mails, DM’s and not to mention all the conversations on Instagram and Facebook. If you are interested in the conversations on Facebook, including a response from Mark Robberds, one of the conference presenters, go here. 

Also, feel free to look me up on Instagram, wellness_yogini, to see the conversations there and the InstaStory.

One of the conference organizers reached out to me as well. Apologies were given and so were explanations. I won’t put any of that here because it defeats the purpose which was to bring awareness to the lack of representation of people of color in the world of yoga. I know that is going to bother some of yall because people like public apologies and shaming in these internet streets but I am not about that. I will say that they were sorry, embarrassed, and never meant any harm. They explained that they just wanted to bring their friends together after the tumultuous year that many had in the Ashtanga world and that the explanation of the workshop could have been clearer and the title too. The organizer was super sweet and there is nothing but love from me to them.

Here is the thing. We have to start somewhere. When I say “we” I am not talking about just the organizer, I am talking about the yoga community as a whole. Saying you understand is not enough.

Many people were like, “why don’t you put together a conference?” You guys, I had to raise money to take a one and a half hour plane ride to go see Sharath in Miami. I do not have the money to organize a conference of that magnitude. I can either further my education or just further yours. I cannot put the money down on a space. I cannot take a loss if people don’t show up. I was a part of a local Yoga and Diversity discussion here in Charlotte, that was organized by someone else. That I can do. But finding some exotic location that people will like to vacation to while doing yoga, I cannot do it. Because, we all know, that if I have this in Nowhere USA, no one is showing up, just like no one barely showed up when I spoke here in Charlotte. If someone wants to front the cost of one, send me an e-mail.  

I write this blog for free. That I can afford to do. It is funny. People often are like, “she did that to get traffic to her blog”. Ummm..there are no ads on my blog. I don’t get paid for clicks. Traffic only helps if you like what I write, share it and call me to do a workshop. I don’t write for that, clearly, because I have not booked any workshops from this blog. I have only done workshops for people who know me personally or word of mouth. I sell a few books and T-shirts but not enough to pay any of my bills except for maybe Netflix. I digress.

So what can broke people do? What can people who currently teach yoga, run conferences, write blogs, or do broadcasts via podcasts, or your own yoga platform do?

Start with your everyday life. Start with what you already do. You planning a conference? Find qualified people to speak who can bring diversity to the event. Own a yoga studio? Look for diverse teachers. Write a blog, run a podcast or have a yoga channel? Look for diverse people to interview and feature. Broke person who just loves practicing yoga? Follow and interact with a diverse group of people on social media and in your home studio. Share their stuff and invite them to your gatherings.

Continue this conversation. Continue to question your thoughts and judgments. Continue to listen with an open mind. And most of all, we all have to get okay with being uncomfortable and get out the habit of shutting down the conversation. I hope you all continue to speak on this. Peace.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•