I have written and rewritten this post several times.
There are no words I have that are adequate to express how I feel about what is happening in this country right now.
There are no words to express how I feel about what has been happening for 400 years in this country.
My outrage and anger and grief is nothing compared to what black people are feeling.
I will never know what it feels like to be a black woman.
I do know, however, that it is part of my job as a human being, to stand for and with those who are oppressed.
So I will do everything I can to help tear down the system of white supremacy that has benefitted me since the day I was born.
I will work daily to actively be anti-racist and will teach my children to be anti-racist, too.
I will acknowledge when I have racist thoughts, look to the root of them, and do the work of reprogramming so those thoughts become less frequent.
I will have difficult conversations with people, when I need to.
I will support black-owned business as often as I can.
I will donate to organizations that uplift and support black people.
I will not assume my voice is more important than a black persons voice.
In my business, I will work harder to collaborate more with black teachers, educators, and mothers.
I will continue to fight back against injustice, oppression, and inequality.
This is what I believe in.
This is the right thing to do.
This is what it means to not just “do” yoga but to truly “live” yoga.
If your yoga doesn’t involve activism, it’s not yoga.
At the root of yoga — at its essence — yoga is about increasing awareness.
Yoga can’t just be about performance art.: Getting on the mat and doing impressive things or making cool shapes with my body.
Yoga has to be about making skillful choices. Living your yoga is creating a life that uplifts others and makes the world a better place.
When I first started practicing yoga, one of the first lessons I learned is that we are all connected.
I’d known this for most of my life, but somehow when I started practicing yoga, I felt it more deeply.
Recognizing that my actions matter — that they ripple out from me like waves — is a reminder that my actions need to be skillful, intentional, and inclusive.
It doesn’t mean I need to be perfect in my anti-racist actions.
It means that I have to be willing to admit mistakes and grow.
Honestly, that’s one of the biggest lessons I teach my kids, too.
So if you see or hear me say something that is out of alignment or insensitive, please call me out.
I promise to listen, to learn, to grow, and to do better.
To those black members of my community, I see you. I stand with you. I will fight alongside you.
I will continue to do the yoga on and off my mat.
To move my body so I can get stronger and softer.
To stay open and listen so my mind and heart can expand.
With love,
Naomi
