Yoga, Health, Social Justice
To the Yoga Community:
The arrival of the novel coronavirusis in societies such as the U.S. - with 400 years of institutional racism and widespread racist world views and behaviors, including at the highest levels of "leadership" - at the same time as uprisings against racist police violence in the wake of George Floyd's apparent murder, has brought us to the brink of something we might not presently be able to clearly see. In a period of less than two weeks, the most powerful movement for social change and social justice in at least a generation has arisen across the U.S. and in other parts of the world.
While many leading voices in yoga have long held that "politics" and matters of social justice have no place in the "yoga community," my view is precisely the opposite. Merely reflecting on the core yogic values of non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), and not talking what not morally and rightfully yours (asteya) puts these front and center...and we don't ancient yoga sources to tell us that. It 's beyond time to stand up with Black Lives Matter and for the broader movements demanding an end to the horrific and seemingly perpetual violence against people based on the color of their skin, gender, sexual preference, national origin, religion or some other quality that some others just don't like.
There is no room in yoga for racism, nor any room for any form of prejudiced social intolerance. At the same time, those who would root their ideas about yoga primarily in the received wisdom of ancient sources from India might well reflect on how caste and gender historically made yoga the province of mostly privileged men and continues to shape the destiny of hundreds of millions of people. But indeed, we have plenty to focus on here in the West, right here in the U.S., right now.
As the world keeps spinning and wobbling into an uncertaiun future, upending life and daily rhythms in ways we can't predict, I'm deeply grateful to have yoga in my life. I'm also deeply disturbed that our little cultural corner is marked by extensive white privilege, including my own. This must change. And such change comes only from the concerted action to make it happen, individually and collectively, in our hearts, minds, and actions (kriya yoga anyone?), and far beyond the yoga scene.
Most of you still reading this probably know that Covid-19 has hit hardest in non-white and poor populations. So just as I wish to share things like a breathiing video to help with immune function, respiratory function, and mental and emotional wellbeing, it's a sad and messed up state of affairs that delivers such resources mostly to those who can easily access them due to the greater resources in their possession.
Let our passion for making the world a better place for all be equal to our passion for yoga. We all need to do better at listening and speaking out. Always looking to be there for others, staying in our daily yoga practice, engaging in deeply self-reflective self-study, committing to ongwoing learning, and sharing all we might in every way possible - these are some of things we can do. In all of it, let's strive for equality, op, and meaningful enenness, tolerance, healthy engagement, and yes, yoga that's healthy, sustainable, and transfoprmational, especially under the current conditions of Covid-19 and the movements for for social justice.
As for things like the reopening of yoga studios for classes, workshops and teacher trainings, yes, this is important to many, but not nearly as important as taking the coronavirus seriously, doing all we can protect one another from it, and taking racism just as seriously and doing all we can to stop it.
Namaste,
Mark
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Books for Yoga Teachers, Yoga Therapists, and Passionate Students
Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques (2010)
Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes (2012)
Yoga Adjustments: Philosophy, Principles, and Techniques (2014)
The Mark Stephens Yoga Sequencing Deck (2016)
Yoga Therapy: Foundations, Methods, and Practices for Common Ailments (2017)
Yoga for Better Sleep: The Art and Science of Sleeping Well (2019)
The Yoga Adjustments Deck (forthcoming February 2020)
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Always remember...
The best yoga teacher you will ever have is alive and well within you, speaking to you in every breath, in every sensation that rises into your consciousness. Keep breathing, keep listening...
