Are we transitioning into this New Season with ease? I pray you are finding moments of calm, rest, deep connection with yourself, and maybe some hibernation in parts. I always find around this time of year I slip into a state of curling up and moving inwards, so I sometimes have to make a conscious decision to still project outwards in order to keep that human connection which is oh-so-important to me. To many of us, I am sure!
Although the days are not quite getting warmer just yet, they are most definitely getting brighter. The Winter Solstice was the catapult of transformation from darkness to light, and soon enough, the birds will be singing as loud as ever and the trees starting to blossom again. But hey, lets’ not rush away the days and find pockets of gratitude in the here and now and the days ahead. Just a little reminder there for us all to continue to be present in the moment.
Have you been keeping up with our #BlackWomenRestingInto2023? If so I hope it has been inspiring in ways. When reading the statistics and the testimonies I found myself feeling saddened, moved, and maybe even crying a little. Rather than trying to ‘be okay’, cover up or hurry away emotions, I instead let them resonate. Do you ever find yourself moving away from emotions that are sometimes too hard to confront? A part of my Yoga Practice is allowing myself to take a pause in these moments, not to dwell but simply to observe what is coming up and why. This moment of “why” reminded me of my purpose. It sparked a memory of why I am driven and motivated to create change.
So it had me in my thoughts, then soon enough in my feelings and I felt a calling to speak on personal experiences as I know my story may be a common one. I have been and still am on many occasions the only black woman in the Yoga Class, I don’t know if I will ever not notice this or if it will ever feel normal when this is the case. But when this disparity speaks so loudly, I start to ask myself why? I’m not intentionally arriving into spaces whether be it as student or Teacher and seeking it out but it is not hard to see that there are not enough of us in Wellness spaces.
And I do not think that’s because we are not giving back to ourselves, I trust we are getting better at this and realising that self-care is a radical act and we deserve it just as much as any other. But I do think it is because many spaces in the West (and I speak on behalf of London having grown up here) are not financially viable or accessible for many folks. I still hear testimonies of Black Folks feeling there is no space for them in some studios and so I am forever grateful to Mindwalk Yoga for being the change that many of us wish to see.
It’s not to say there has not been any progression as I do believe there has been some change in recent years in London U.K. but there is still a long way to go. Having worked in West Africa there is a stark difference when holding space in an open public class, all the faces staring back at you are connected to your own Ancestry and Lineage. Those moments I hold close and dear to me.
So back to my moment of “why”, I remember in my first few years of training, I had only come across one black Yoga Teacher. The teacher was a man and as well as his name I can still remember what he looks like maybe even the sound of his voice. I haven’t seen Paul in some years but the fact that I can remember succinct information tells me that coming across a black Yoga Teacher was like an enigma. It really affected me I must say!
In more recent years I have discovered an abundance of Wellness Practitioners from my community whom have been doing this work for years so I ask myself why were they not in the spaces in which they should have been. A rhetorical question of course! So, this here was and still is my why. The catalyst of wanting to become a Yoga Teacher not only stemmed from wanting to give back and share the gift of nurturing and self-care but to be that person that I didn’t see. I knew the importance of having someone that looks like you, holding space for you. And I know this because again I succinctly remember my Maths Teacher, my Music Teacher and my Geography Teacher for those very reasons.
Having been a Choreographer for some years where I have found myself in a similar position at times, I somehow when starting to practise Yoga, again found myself in an industry which had a few of the same narratives. I would not change my career paths in any which way because I know I was born to move, create and tell stories with my work but the irony is not lost on me. And so, I continue to use my voice and my work to show up and hopefully make a difference where I am received.
So, to summarise, as you can see our #BlackWomenRestingInto2023 campaign really churned up a lot of thought, emotions and feelings for me and I simply wanted to share this with you. Maybe this has you thinking ‘what is your why’? I hope to reignite and/or remind you of your purpose should you have one. Amidst your thoughts, I pray you to allocate some time for yourself and join us in taking moments of active rest. A term which I have coined for myself lately. A state of having nowhere to be, just dedicating that time out for myself. Maybe even scheduling in your diary or journal as ‘rest’. You may already be familiar with this, but if not, I invite you to try it. We schedule everything else, so why not allocate time for you?
Please feel free to be in touch with the team or me should you wish to share if any of the above resonates with you or if you simply want to speak of any related experiences.
You can find further information here if you wish to know more about our campaign and ways to get involved.
We have an extensive VOD library tailored to suit many of your needs. A short Morning Meditation from myself to start your day or some gentle movement to wind down an early evening with Slow Flow practice.
