Our Mission |
The Yoga Diversity Initiative’s mission is to make the
practice of yoga more accessible to People of Color.
|
Our Approach
The Yoga Diversity Initiative
was born from the awareness of the economic and cultural barriers that can make
yoga inaccessible to People of Color. We recognize there are communities
of color who would benefit from yoga practice if classes were more accessible
to them.
We believe yoga teachers of color can play a critical role in bringing yoga to these communities. Our primary approach to addressing issues of access is supporting scholarships for yoga students of color to attend yoga teacher trainings. Yoga Diversity Initiative facilitators provide mentorship, resources and networking opportunities to the scholarship recipients.
We provide information for People of Color in Boston looking for culturally sensitive yoga practices. In addition to serving practitioners, we also provide resources to yoga studios and teachers on improving yoga accessibility to marginalized populations.
We believe yoga teachers of color can play a critical role in bringing yoga to these communities. Our primary approach to addressing issues of access is supporting scholarships for yoga students of color to attend yoga teacher trainings. Yoga Diversity Initiative facilitators provide mentorship, resources and networking opportunities to the scholarship recipients.
We provide information for People of Color in Boston looking for culturally sensitive yoga practices. In addition to serving practitioners, we also provide resources to yoga studios and teachers on improving yoga accessibility to marginalized populations.
our thoughts on the ongoing murder and violence against black people in our country and the current protests
To our YDI community. The murder of Michael Brown in the summer of 2014 is part of the reason why The Yoga Diversity Initiative came into being. Here we are almost 6 years later and nothing has changed in terms of the violence in this country against black and brown bodies. The YDI team wanted to reach out in a shared sense of anger, rage and a commitment to change.
We wanted to share the following statement from our founder Chanelle John who is a black woman who has a yoga business in Boston:
http://www.yogadiversityinitiative.org/message-from-chanelle.html
To the POC in our community: We support you and stand beside you. YDI was formed as an organization to combat racism and the effects of racism. We continue our fight. Our founder Chanelle John continues holding POC yoga classes online. Practicing in community is more important than ever. Visit her website for more info https://www.hivesoulyoga.com/
To the white allies in our community: We wanted to remind you that while attending protests and giving voice to your rage is critical, what is equally important is what you do after you get home from those protests in the weeks, months and years after. Get yourself educated (without depending on POC to do this) and committed to staying continually focused on eliminating racism and police brutality in this county. A few Suggestions:
Groups for white people committed to ending racism:
Open Office Hours for Social Justice & Anti-Oppression Work With YDI team member Alex Bauermeister
For folks who want to upgrade from ally to accomplice, from good intentions to effective action: I’ll be holding office hours the next 4 Wednesdays.
https://www.intrayogatherapy.com/workshops/officehours
Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC)
http://antiracismcollaborative.org/
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/
Reading:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism
https://robindiangelo.com/publications/
How To Be An Antiracist
https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
https://www.professorcarolanderson.org/white-rage
Donate to organizations doing anti-racism work and supporting our communities of color
National Bail Fund network
https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory
Black Lives Matter
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund:
https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/
Yoga Diversity Initiative
http://www.yogadiversityinitiative.org/donate.html
Finally, to everyone – VOTE – absence in voting = continued death for POC. We obviously need to make sweeping change at the federal level. At the state level YDI is endorsing Robbie Goldstein who is running against Steve Lynch in the 8th congressional district. Robbie has been tweeting and emailing his supporters all week about being out there in the protests and his commitment to ending racial and economic disparities in our state. https://www.robbieforchange.com/
In solidarity
The YDI Team
We wanted to share the following statement from our founder Chanelle John who is a black woman who has a yoga business in Boston:
http://www.yogadiversityinitiative.org/message-from-chanelle.html
To the POC in our community: We support you and stand beside you. YDI was formed as an organization to combat racism and the effects of racism. We continue our fight. Our founder Chanelle John continues holding POC yoga classes online. Practicing in community is more important than ever. Visit her website for more info https://www.hivesoulyoga.com/
To the white allies in our community: We wanted to remind you that while attending protests and giving voice to your rage is critical, what is equally important is what you do after you get home from those protests in the weeks, months and years after. Get yourself educated (without depending on POC to do this) and committed to staying continually focused on eliminating racism and police brutality in this county. A few Suggestions:
Groups for white people committed to ending racism:
Open Office Hours for Social Justice & Anti-Oppression Work With YDI team member Alex Bauermeister
For folks who want to upgrade from ally to accomplice, from good intentions to effective action: I’ll be holding office hours the next 4 Wednesdays.
https://www.intrayogatherapy.com/workshops/officehours
Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC)
http://antiracismcollaborative.org/
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/
Reading:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism
https://robindiangelo.com/publications/
How To Be An Antiracist
https://www.ibramxkendi.com/how-to-be-an-antiracist-1
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
https://www.professorcarolanderson.org/white-rage
Donate to organizations doing anti-racism work and supporting our communities of color
National Bail Fund network
https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory
Black Lives Matter
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund:
https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/
Yoga Diversity Initiative
http://www.yogadiversityinitiative.org/donate.html
Finally, to everyone – VOTE – absence in voting = continued death for POC. We obviously need to make sweeping change at the federal level. At the state level YDI is endorsing Robbie Goldstein who is running against Steve Lynch in the 8th congressional district. Robbie has been tweeting and emailing his supporters all week about being out there in the protests and his commitment to ending racial and economic disparities in our state. https://www.robbieforchange.com/
In solidarity
The YDI Team
