Our History
YDI (Yoga Diversity Initiative) was formed in the Fall of 2014. The inspiration for creating YDI came from a blog posting by Chanelle John titled “(More) Reasons Why Your Yoga Class Is So White” http://www.decolonizingyoga.com/reasons-yoga-class-white/
From her blog:
Studios could make a tremendous impact if they made an effort to train instructors from different backgrounds. Despite the stunning array of options one has for a yoga teacher training, these programs are still certifying teachers that promote yoga’s status quo. To effectively combat this image issue, and to teach to diverse communities in a culturally sensitive way, there will need to be more yoga instructors of color. All students deserve the feeling of connection and support that comes from relating to their yoga teacher. Sadly, that is not the experience many people have when attending public classes. As a yoga practitioner for over 6 years, I have yet to attend a single class taught by an instructor who looks like me. By training and hiring teachers from different backgrounds, those teachers are given vital skills to take yoga’s healing benefits back to their communities.
YDI came about from discussions between yoga practitioners and yoga teachers that wanted to make a difference in the Boston yoga community by starting an initiative to provide scholarships for yoga teacher trainings to POC (People of Color). We determined that there were two additional elements that were important to incorporate into YDI’s approach to administering the yoga teacher trainer scholarships:
Mentorship: All the reasons that present challenges for POC to attend yoga classes are also present for a POC participating in a yoga teacher training that will be conducted and attended by primarily white people. In order to maximize the potential for a successful training, we felt it was import that our scholarship recipients have support through regular contact and meetings with an established POC yoga teacher
Economic Justice: It is very challenging to support yourself as a yoga teacher. Yoga teachers frequently get asked to teach for free or use their skills without financial compensation. YDI recognizes the value of time from POC yoga teachers and how important it is to help them have sustainable careers. Because of this, YDI offer stipends to POC teachers who participate in the recipient selection process and serve as mentors.
So far we have awarded five teacher training scholarships. In addition to the scholarship program we offer consulting services for trainers conducting yoga teacher trainings and have staff that run short workshops on building yoga diversity that can be incorporated into yoga teacher trainings.
From her blog:
Studios could make a tremendous impact if they made an effort to train instructors from different backgrounds. Despite the stunning array of options one has for a yoga teacher training, these programs are still certifying teachers that promote yoga’s status quo. To effectively combat this image issue, and to teach to diverse communities in a culturally sensitive way, there will need to be more yoga instructors of color. All students deserve the feeling of connection and support that comes from relating to their yoga teacher. Sadly, that is not the experience many people have when attending public classes. As a yoga practitioner for over 6 years, I have yet to attend a single class taught by an instructor who looks like me. By training and hiring teachers from different backgrounds, those teachers are given vital skills to take yoga’s healing benefits back to their communities.
YDI came about from discussions between yoga practitioners and yoga teachers that wanted to make a difference in the Boston yoga community by starting an initiative to provide scholarships for yoga teacher trainings to POC (People of Color). We determined that there were two additional elements that were important to incorporate into YDI’s approach to administering the yoga teacher trainer scholarships:
Mentorship: All the reasons that present challenges for POC to attend yoga classes are also present for a POC participating in a yoga teacher training that will be conducted and attended by primarily white people. In order to maximize the potential for a successful training, we felt it was import that our scholarship recipients have support through regular contact and meetings with an established POC yoga teacher
Economic Justice: It is very challenging to support yourself as a yoga teacher. Yoga teachers frequently get asked to teach for free or use their skills without financial compensation. YDI recognizes the value of time from POC yoga teachers and how important it is to help them have sustainable careers. Because of this, YDI offer stipends to POC teachers who participate in the recipient selection process and serve as mentors.
So far we have awarded five teacher training scholarships. In addition to the scholarship program we offer consulting services for trainers conducting yoga teacher trainings and have staff that run short workshops on building yoga diversity that can be incorporated into yoga teacher trainings.
Our Staff
Chanelle John
Chanelle is a race scholar and yoga instructor based in Boston, MA. Prior to completing her yoga teacher training, she received her BA from Goddard College, with a focus on the intersections of race, identity, and art.
Helping bridge yoga’s diversity divide is one of Chanelle’s greatest passions. She can regularly be found teaching yoga at library branches and community centers throughout Greater Boston. In addition to teaching community classes, Chanelle speaks professionally on the topics of yoga, diversity, and racial health disparities. She brings this expertise to her role on the Leadership Team of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. Her writings on these subjects have been featured on the website Decolonizing Yoga, The Yoga and Body Image Coalition’s blog, and on her own website at www.hivesoulyoga.com/
Helping bridge yoga’s diversity divide is one of Chanelle’s greatest passions. She can regularly be found teaching yoga at library branches and community centers throughout Greater Boston. In addition to teaching community classes, Chanelle speaks professionally on the topics of yoga, diversity, and racial health disparities. She brings this expertise to her role on the Leadership Team of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. Her writings on these subjects have been featured on the website Decolonizing Yoga, The Yoga and Body Image Coalition’s blog, and on her own website at www.hivesoulyoga.com/
Mike Kutter
Mike has been a yoga practitioner for 15 years and is committed to the spread of both yoga and meditation in the world. Mike is an MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) teacher and has taught in primarily corporate settings. He volunteers in prisons as an AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) facilitator.
johnathon Holmes
Johnathon took his first yoga class on a whim. He was new to Boston and noticed that many people seemed to have yoga mats surgically attached to their back when walking down the street – what was all this about? Not knowing what he was getting himself into, he signed up for a 2 hour Iyengar class at his gym – 3 blankets, 2 blocks and 1 strap later; he was in love. He was asked to move in a way that was completely foreign and he walked out of class eager for more. The benefits of the yoga practice were immediate for Johnathon and he sensed a profound shift had taken place – little did he know that this was just the beginning.
Johnathon completed his 200-hour teacher training with the Boston Yoga School. Linking breath and movement seems so simple, yet has a profound effect when practiced with purpose. As a registered nurse, Johnathon is also interested in how the regular practice of yoga can help students cultivate physical, emotional and spiritual health. His class is an expression of his love for playfulness and structure. He aims to provide a space where students of all skill level and background can find stability, play their edge and create space to let a little more light in.
Johnathon completed his 200-hour teacher training with the Boston Yoga School. Linking breath and movement seems so simple, yet has a profound effect when practiced with purpose. As a registered nurse, Johnathon is also interested in how the regular practice of yoga can help students cultivate physical, emotional and spiritual health. His class is an expression of his love for playfulness and structure. He aims to provide a space where students of all skill level and background can find stability, play their edge and create space to let a little more light in.
