Why I have decided to continue sharing Yoga

Somewhere around 2009 I was introduced to Yoga. 

At age 7, I became so enthralled and intrigued by the indigenous cultures from which Yoga came, I attempted sitting in on my mom’s yoga teacher trainings with K. Pattabhi Jois, stealing her books, and holding myself to what now seems to me an impressive meditation practice on my back porch.

In 2014, I graduated from Temple University with a dual degree in Environmental Studies and French. I loved my time in undergrad, was priviledged to study abroad a bunch and make great friends in Philly and beyond. I left with two liberal arts degrees and a lot of debt. After my first summer working for Bennett Compost (a local compost pickup service) and Solar States (a local solar installer), I decided to embark on my first 200 teacher training at Amrita Yoga and Wellness.

Since then, I have been in the cycle of training and being trained. At Three Queens Yoga in Queen Village, Philadelphia, and by many anti-oppression and Yoga teachers around the globe. Currently, I am aligned with Community Resilience Initiative and certified to train trauma-informed teachers (Yoga and otherwise) + practitioners.

I am trying my darnedest to stay grounded in a sense of self ~ at least enough to receive feedback about my impact, learn more & do better (Maya Angelou) ~ rather than hiding behind shame and fear.

My studies of all of the Yogic practices - not just asana - have guided me to make my biggest life choices. I now see how connected they are. I can see the social impact of our climate emergency as the final and most severe symptom of the disassociating effects of trauma on our lives.

My practice is the reason I say “yes” to the jobs I say yes to - teaching Yoga + meditation in detention centers, behavioral health centers, and in schools for kiddos with complex learning and behavioral challenges.

My practice is the reason I say “no” when I speak up against discrimination, oppression and injustice when it is uncomfortable and even at the risk of being fired. 

My Yoga practice as a white person is reckoning with my identities, privilege, proximity to power, 

the soil/culture I was grown in, 

where I have transplanted myself, 

and my roles, responsibilities, and relationships of the communities I cross-pollinate and collaborate in.

I am responsible for assessing the quality and contents of what is in the soil of dominant culture and using my voice, hands, and skills to ensure everyone has what they need to grow successfully.

I benefit from the indigenous wisdom of Yoga everyday. 

In one hand, I hold the truth that Yoga is not mine to teach. 

Yoga is not something that can be bought, sold, owned, commodified. 

In the other hand, I hold the the truth that I have committed most of my life thus far to studying and practicing in order to effectively care for and deepen all of my relationships: to my self, to this body I live in, the nervous system I have, the actions I take, to my moral compass, to others, our community, our planet and all of its fine critters. 

My dedication to my practices continues to deepen my understanding of my impact / role on our community, local + global. 

I lean on *all* of the practices of yoga to support me in making decisions based on courage and duty in the face of discrimination, oppression + injustice - rather than shame and fear.

It is my responsibility to stand both feet in this role I’ve accepted an educator - and sacrifice my privileges, preferences & even needs for the sake of my community members + students.

Until I figure out more appropriate ways to be in service of my community / chosen family…

Unless and until I discover the harm outweighs the care…

I will continue to offer the best I can with what I have - which right now is a lot of hours and $ invested in Yoga, mindfulness & trauma-informed training, a degree in environmental studies, and the assignment of teaching health, wellness + sex ed to youth with complex learning challenges. 

I promise to continue un/learning, paying reparations, lowering my consumption/emissions and giving income and hours to orgs focused on creating equity + seeking environmental / social justice.