Accessible yoga isn’t just about being politically correct or a “nice” thing to do.
Accessibility in yoga is a radical act.
When we ensure that our teaching and community spaces are equitable and accessible for folks of all abilities, shapes, sizes, ages, races, genders, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, we redistribute power.
Power and social currency is (and has historically been) systemically and individually withheld from people with marginalized identities. When, as teachers, we go through the process of seeing and affirming a student with ALL of their intersecting identities, when we create a space where no one leaves part of themselves at the door when they come into our class, we redistribute power.
We remind students of their agency and create a container where they can safely use it. By seeing individual human beings and their needs, what their bodies require, and giving them the permission to advocate for that and to be in charge of their own bodies, we redistribute power.
Whether we deserve it or not, as yoga teachers, we are in a position of power. Folks look to us for, at the very least, a class where they can move their bodies safely, but many are coming to us for more: healing body image and self-worth, spiritual guidance. We have a sacred responsibility to honor the unique human beings in front of us. And then go through a process of negotiation, collaboration, consent, and creation. Every pose or practice is a puzzle: how can we personalize this to meet your needs, to meet you where you are today?
How can we voluntarily redistribute some of the power we hold, and reinstate that power to our students, especially those who are disempowered and disenfranchised systemically and individually by our culture?
THAT is why this work is vital. Not so we can “be nice” or coddle people’s feelings. But because it is a revolutionary and radical way to chip away at the systems of oppression (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy) we are all living under. Accessible Yoga is revolutionary work.
When we ensure that our teaching and community spaces are equitable and accessible for folks of all abilities, shapes, sizes, ages, races, genders, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, we redistribute power.
Power and social currency is (and has historically been) systemically and individually withheld from people with marginalized identities. When, as teachers, we go through the process of seeing and affirming a student with ALL of their intersecting identities, when we create a space where no one leaves part of themselves at the door when they come into our class, we redistribute power.
We remind students of their agency and create a container where they can safely use it. By seeing individual human beings and their needs, what their bodies require, and giving them the permission to advocate for that and to be in charge of their own bodies, we redistribute power.
Whether we deserve it or not, as yoga teachers, we are in a position of power. Folks look to us for, at the very least, a class where they can move their bodies safely, but many are coming to us for more: healing body image and self-worth, spiritual guidance. We have a sacred responsibility to honor the unique human beings in front of us. And then go through a process of negotiation, collaboration, consent, and creation. Every pose or practice is a puzzle: how can we personalize this to meet your needs, to meet you where you are today?
How can we voluntarily redistribute some of the power we hold, and reinstate that power to our students, especially those who are disempowered and disenfranchised systemically and individually by our culture?
THAT is why this work is vital. Not so we can “be nice” or coddle people’s feelings. But because it is a revolutionary and radical way to chip away at the systems of oppression (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy) we are all living under. Accessible Yoga is revolutionary work.
As I write this, we’re heading into day 2 of the Accessible Yoga Training today in Hershey, PA.
Come learn with us. Scholarships are available so just reach out for details.
Come learn with us. Scholarships are available so just reach out for details.
Upcoming dates with me:
Madison, WI June 14-16, 2019 : http://bit.ly/AKmadison
Ruckersville, VA August 23-25, 2019: http://bit.ly/AKRuckersville
Pittsburgh, PA November 15-17, 2019 http://bit.ly/AKPittsburgh
This post was edited by Nina Zolotow, co-editor of the Accessible Yoga blog and Editor in Chief of Yoga for Healthy Aging.
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I would love to see more posts on the "how" part!
ReplyDelete"How can we voluntarily redistribute some of the power we hold, and reinstate that power to our students, especially those who are disempowered and disenfranchised systemically and individually by our culture?"