A safe and facilitated six-part conversational series intended for any yoga community stakeholder. Inviting owners, directors, managers, volunteers, teachers, and committed students who have an interest, concern, or curiosity to enrich their knowledge in service of evolving the yoga culture within their respective community. All events will take place on Zoom.

We Are All One. This phrase is often used in yoga and mindfulness circles to suggest that it's not yogic to see differences, or that a true yogi stays neutral in political or current events discussions. Many of us in this industry realize – now, more than ever – that if we truly are "one," we are then compelled to recognize the harms, divisions, and challenges in our community, and summon the courage and compassion to contribute repair.  As Krishna instructs Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, he must "arise with a brave heart" and act according to his duty in the world: "Those are truly free who see themselves in all others and all others in themselves." 

Join Marsha Banks Harold of PIES Fitness Yoga Studio and Annie Moyer of Sun & Moon Yoga in an ongoing, authentic conversation among yoga studio communities as we share resources, education, and creativity to ensure that a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is standard operating procedure in the yoga business.

Marsha Banks-Harold, PIES Fitness Yoga Studio

Annie Moyer, Sun & Moon Yoga

Why are we doing this? 

In the early days of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, Marsha and Annie talked about their parallel experiences as yoga studio owners making efforts toward diversity and inclusion over the years. As a Black woman owner, Marsha’s choices were about survival. As a white woman, Annie’s were about privilege. Both wish it weren’t so, and agreed to do something about it by facilitating a conversation among colleagues in the community who are asking similar questions about how and why yoga and racial equity intersect, and where to go from there.

Who’s ready for change?

This series of community dialogues is intended for yoga studio communities who are embarking on the journey toward learning and action in the realm of equity and inclusion. If you are involved in a yoga studio community in any way (whether in an ownership, management, volunteer, or student capacity), if you’re curious about why yoga is a relevant space for this conversation, and if you desire to participate in a continued awakening, this is a great place to start.

We will focus on a monthly theme grounded in yoga philosophy, guided by education, research, and self-study. The format will be animated by current business practices, and fleshed out by a collaborative approach among participants. Cohorts from respective communities are encouraged to participate together, and we’ll provide interactive opportunities among and across communities.

Schedule

Conversations will happen via Zoom, Sunday afternoons from 4:00 - 5:30pm

• Sunday September 20, 4:00p - 5:30p
  Yoga Sutra 1.1 – And now begin the teachings of yoga: Self-study as a foundation for discovering our essential nature, building relationships, and fostering a welcoming environment

• Sunday October 18, 4:00p - 5:30p

  Yoga Sutra 1.33 – the Divine Abodes: Resiliency as the ability to adapt to studio unknowns and uncomfortable interactions

• Sunday November 15, 4:00p - 5:30p

  Yoga Sutras 2.35 - 45 – Yamas and Niyamas: Redefining "safe space” and shifting away from harm

• Sunday December 20, 4:00p - 5:30p

  Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Breaking out of "ego cage" conditioning toward skillful action: Prioritizing collective well-being 

• Sunday January 17, 4:00p - 5:30p 

  Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 – Selfless service & our dharma as yoga communities: Power dynamics and dominant ideologies 

• Sunday February 21, 4:00p - 5:30p 

  Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 – Wisdom in action as we distinguish desire-less action from action-less desire: Strategic discernment to bring change

Your investment (per person per session, with 10% discount for full series) 

• $35 per session for one individual (or $190 for the series)

• $20 per session with studio group of 5 to 9 (or $110 for the series)

• $10 per session with studio group of 10 or more (or $54 for the series)

Proceeds will be donated toward helping to fund yoga teacher training scholarships for BIPOC at the school of the receipts’ choice.

photo by karen jordan photography