Social Justice, Racial Equity, and Yoga│Cultural Appropriation in Yoga
Social Justice, Racial Equity, and Cultural Appropriation in Yoga
“Yoga was created by brown people. So why are so many modern Yoga spaces overwhelmingly white?”
As a 15+ year student of Yoga and a 500-hour certified teacher, I believe deeply in creating ethical, socially conscious content and spaces that acknowledge the ongoing impacts of capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy around the world and of course, within the Yoga world. My commitment to anti-racist work and allyship comes from a genuine desire to help create more equitable, inclusive systems within the spaces I occupy. So, the above question has continuously popped up and stayed with me throughout my Yoga journey.
The short answer is “because capitalism.” Both white supremacy and colonialism are perpetuated and incentivized by capitalism. All three systems of power are so deeply woven into the fabric of global culture and industry, that of course they are going to permeate Yoga, too. The industry, like every industry, is a microcosm that is going to reflect the assumptions woven into broader culture. These systems of power run in the background of every aspect of our lives.
Since committing to the Yogic path in 2017, I’ve noticed the persistent white-washing of Yoga and wellness culture across studios, online media, and retreat spaces. While I cannot speak for anyone else, conversations with community members have highlighted two major barriers to inclusivity: Accessibility + Representation.
Financial accessibility disproportionately affects global majority representatives. Yoga classes, Yoga props, Yoga teacher trainings, and even special clothes marketed as “Yoga pants, leggings, etc,” are often luxury-level expensive! Systemic economic oppression means not having the available free time or access to reliable transportation, which can pose major barriers to entry! Many Yoga and fitness studios are located in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods.
The second barrier is representation. In my conversations with people of the global majority, they have shared with me that Yoga simply has not felt like a space created for them because they rarely saw teachers, students, or leaders in the space who reflected their own identities and lived experiences. When people see themselves reflected by a community, they are more likely to feel safe, welcomed, and empowered to participate. Especially for black folks, being the only person who looks like you in a space can even be dangerous. Let alone being the only black person in a dark room full of strangers? Doesn’t sound very relaxing to me.
In my observation, classes led by global majority instructors naturally attract a more diverse group of students, demonstrating that the issue is not a lack of interest in Yoga, but rather a lack of accessibility, visibility, and representation within the dominant wellness culture. I believe that the true practice of Yoga involves actively uplifting and centering diverse voices, leadership, and experiences while engaging in these conversations with humility, accountability, and a willingness to learn.
The Yogic practice of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, invites us not only to minimize our own harmful impact, but also to actively fight against harm and violence that is being done in the world. No matter who you are or where you come from, you are welcome here, you are loved here, and you are enough here, in the Queer Soul Alchemy community. Our mission is directly working to solve the above two issues by providing accessible safe spaces for queer global majority people to teach, receive, and share wisdom. The practices of Yoga + Ayurveda shared here can help us to reclaim our bodies and heal, within community and with the Earth.
Yoga + Social Justice Conversation with Michelle Cassandra Johnson
I am very excited to share the below conversation from a podcast episode with special guest, author Michelle Cassandra Johnson. We discuss how to radicalize your Yoga practice both on and off the mat for racial equity, to create a more just world. We also begin to unpack how the power structures of white supremacy and capitalism have contributed to such a lack of diversity among Yoga practitioners worldwide, despite Yoga’s Indian origins. Listen now!
Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant and educator, and intuitive and shamanic healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle facilitates workshops and immersions, leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide, and offers an array of healing services for individuals and groups. For over 25 years as a racial equity educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. Michelle is a six-time published author, a TEDx speaker, and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores embodied approaches to racial equity work, creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal.
⭐ Michelle’s website: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/
⭐ I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER BOOK, Skill in Action: https://www.skill-in-action.com/
Thank you for reading, and blessed be.
With all my love, Lee Devi ॐ
