Yoga is for All
The new year can often be the same rush as the end of the previous one. It can give you the feeling that you are not doing enough immediately to make those changes for the New Year’s Resolution that you swore you weren’t going to make. Take a breath and begin to work on your mental, spiritual, and physical health with yoga. Yoga is a good way to change your body and get some exercise, and also center yourself mentally. Today we wanted to share with you several yoga studios, influencers, and communities to help you on that journey. This is not everything of course, you can find more yoga studios here. Once you get started, or you feel like you need something else, check out our black owned gyms listed here.
Bright and Salted is a yoga studio that is open 6 days a week in Sterlington,Louisiana. The offer a wide range of classes in their modern and warm studio to help you get the best results and to build a supportive community. Their class offerings include “The Salted Yoga Experience” which is a beginner friendly class developed by studio owner Arianna Elizabeth along with Dynamic Flow, and their cardio and strength class “Yoga Sculpt” and more. Bright and Salted also offers eco-friendly yoga mats for you in 7 colors.
Newark, New Jersey is the home of I’m So Yoga. Leslie began her journey to being a studio owner when she began taking yoga classes at the Newark YMCA. She was inspired to become an instructor and bring more awareness of yoga to her community. The studio specializes in Flow, and each of the instructors strives to make everyone welcome and able to pursue a better mind, body, and spirit.
Macala Lacy, or benditlikelacy, her instagram handle, is more than just a yoga instructor. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist who is intentional and mindful in her practices. She is also a certified yoga teacher. Her yoga workshops and classes are all encompassing with focus on mental, emotional, spiritual and physical wellness. Her website, The Well Healing was created in 2017 and she offers support to marginalized communities helping them to live healthier lifestyles and seek wholeness within themselves.
Eb and Flow Yoga is a Chicago, Illinois Yoga Studio that has classes for students of every skill level. No matter what your experience is, Eb and Flow aims to help you forge a deeper connection with your mind and body. They place an emphasis on building, and being a part of the community. You can also get classes in person and online to deepen your practice. .
If you want a more heated yoga session, then Seviin Yoga in Atlanta is good for you. Seviin Yoga is Hot yoga, meaning it features heated rooms and a focus on “Power Flow”. However, that is not all they offer, as Seviin also features a Vibe and Chill class, and did I mention that their room also has LED lights to set even more of a mood? You have got to check out this Yoga studio and growing
Too many people think of yoga and believe that it is only for slimmer people and smaller bodies. Saisha Lacon, also known as Thick Thighs Yoga is here to get rid of that myth and be an inspiration for those looking to get into yoga but who may be afraid to because of their body type. Her classes and retreats are welcoming spaces for all to feel included in their own fitness journeys. You can follow her online and check out her youtube and sign up for a session on her website.
Tierra Briscoe has almost 20 years of experience in yoga and mindfulness. Her practice is all about self-discovery and inner wellness. You can join her online community and sign up for her retreats in luxurious locations and on-demand classes as well.
Black To Yoga is a group dedicated to the mission to “bring the transformational power of yoga to Black people of the Afrikan Diaspora”. They want to bring yoga to everyone so they can experience the benefits. Black to Yoga offers classes, teachers in their Oakland base as well as a network of National instructors. You can find their resources on their website which includes both Male and Female Instructors.
The Black Male Yoga Initiative is a program that was begun by Life Coach and author Changa Bell. The Chief Yoga Instructor brings many hours of experience as an instructor to the organization. The BMYI’s mission is “ to create a safe and inclusive space where individuals can cultivate self-awareness, build resilience, and enhance their overall well-being”. Their desire is to allow Black men the space to experience yoga and its benefits to help enhance our lives.
Iyengar Yoga, like many Yoga studios and programs, is all about developing community. This Detroit yoga studio is also about more than that, their goal is liberation. They offer affordable classes for everyone and also practice cooperative economics to align their values with the ethics of yoga. Their community provides a true example of worker ownership with a committee approach to everything within the studio. Iyengar studio is a glimpse into a different society and the power of the collective.
Zentric flow is a brand of yoga mats that are eco-friendly. Made of cork, the mats from zentric flow are light and provide cushion with natural rubber and each mat is 6mm thick. This helps to make them easier on your knees and joints while you practice. This is a great way to get started on your yoga journey, or a treat if you’ve been practicing for a while.
Afro Yoga started in 2017 with a donation based class held in a park. Over 60 people showed up for the class and from that day, Angie Franklin Garcia knew that Afro Yoga would be something even larger. Today, she impacts the yoga community, corporate clients as she works to foster meaningful change and growth within their organizations. Afro Yoga offers masterclasses, mentorship, training, retreats and can help to work within your businesses wellness plans.
Based in Dallas, Texas, Litehouse Wellness is a nonprofit organization trying to bridge the wellness gap in underserved communities. A part of that is ensuring that there are classes and services dedicated to underserved groups such as Black men, women, and youths. A key initiative is “Broga,” a yoga program tailored for Black men and boys, providing culturally inclusive spaces to address stress and promote mental well-being. Participants have reported significant benefits, such as improved mental clarity and reduced depression. Litehouse Wellness also offers workshops, retreats and Doula services.
The Black Yoga Teacher’s alliance is a great place to look for a yoga instructor if you are still having trouble after checking out this feature and our other great listings. This group came together beginning in 2009 by teachers Maya Breuer and Jana Long for black yoga instructors to connect and discuss tips, suggestions and their needs as professionals. If you are aspiring to become a teacher, this is a group you should get to know, and they also have a helpful teacher search which you can find here.
