Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) need a space to
practice yoga as a way to heal from the damages of racism and other
systemic injustices, many which create serious health impacts on
our bodies (e.g, weathering, depression & other mental health,
hypertension, cardiovascular disease), also known as embodied
inequality (Krieger, 2013). Yoga is recognized as having numerous
health benefits but is often practiced in “race-evasive” ways, ones
where race, racism, and intersecting injustices are ignored, in
largely white spaces. In order to provide a space for BIPOC to
engage in yoga that specifically addresses racism and
intersectional injustice, we have created BIPOC+ Healing Yoga. This
donation based class provides yoga practice that sustains a
traditional commitment to yoga's roots while also building in an
explicit discussion of recognition of and healing from racism and
its intersecting oppressions. The + is in recognition that people
of color experience intersecting oppressions (e.g., sexism,
ableism, cis-heteropatriarchy) that make them even more vulnerable
to societal and interpersonal inequities. BIPOC+ need healing
spaces where they do not feel “othered”, where they are the norm
instead of the exception. The goal of BIPOC+ Healing Yoga is to
provide an opportunity for people of color to be seen and loved as
they make their way through a regular yoga practice. We
respectfully remind you that this class is only for those who
identify as BIPOC and that if you do not identify as BIPOC, there
are ## of classes at Om Tree you can take. For examples of other
studios and teachers using BIPOC+ only spaces for healing from
racism in society and yoga community, see: Do We Need Yoga Classes
Dedicated to Women of Color?