As yogis, our practice does not end after Savasana and “Namaste.”

Yoga means “union”. Yoga is not something we do, it’s not a place that we go.

Yoga is a state of being. It is to embody the very essence of unity.

May we dedicate our practice first and foremost to filling ourselves – with compassion, presence, healing, clarity and love– but NOT stop there.

May we devote our practice to something bigger – to a cause greater than just ourselves. May the benefits of our practices expand beyond just the wellbeing of our bodies, our minds and our hearts.

May our yoga practice inform and inspire us to live our yoga. To speak up, act, and respond to the injustices of the world from a place of love, compassion, courage and righteousness.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

May we meditate– not to close our eyes to the pain in the world but to open our hearts.

To see clearly the suffering and oppression of others and how we can best respond in the name of dharma, love and unity.

May we reflect on who we truly are, the greater purpose of our life and the ways in which we can truly serve the world.

May we act from the place of courage that yoga inspires within us to look within and see the ways in which we unconsciously participate in the oppression, pain and suffering of others.

“If one has courage, nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
– Maya Angelou

May we truly look within and heal the wounded parts of ourselves and dissolve the thoughts and behaviours within us that not only perpetuate but benefit from the broken systems that oppress, discriminate against and abuse our black world family.

May we not just practice yoga, but truly embody it.

Today we are remembering this important truth…

We cannot truly be free until we are all free.

Your liberation is our liberation.

“We are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.”
– Rosa Parks

Beyond our own self-reflection, educating ourselves and the transformation of our own consciousness, we all have a unique language of compassion and specific skills, talents and ways of actively serving and participating in this time of urgent global change.

For some us that may mean donating funds, for others it means to join in peaceful protest, for another it could mean signing petitions, having important conversations with family or friends or voting with your dollars.

If you need some inspiration for where to get started with in your antiracism movement, these are a couple of the resources we’re currently diving into:

“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.”
– Maya Angelou

Here we’re learning. We’re unlearning. We’re not perfect, but we’re doing what we can.

How are you living your yoga today? How can you bring your yoga into action?

#blacklivesmatter #yogainaction