Taking Action with a Pilates & Yoga Lens
Like many of you, I’ve been taking time to self-study, reflect and ask myself how I will continue to unlearn my inherent bias as a white woman and take action in this civil rights movement. Beyond my personal life, I’ve asked myself how this movement is intertwined with my business. Yoga and Pilates in the wellness sphere are often spaces that haven’t been developed with inclusivity to our black community. I am no expert on this topic. In searching my heart for answers, I can only share what I know- which is the realm of Pilates & yoga.
I know that at the heart of yoga lie the moral principles of the yamas and niyamas. One of those principles is non-violence. Nonviolence is thrown around a lot in the yoga community as being loving, being vegetarian, or being a good, kind person. Let’s talk about what ahimsa means inside a system of structural violence like that of the USA and our world. Being nonviolent actually means standing up to harm. It’s not enough to be nice in a world where racism violently attacks Black lives. Ahimsa looks like taking action.
If you are wondering how to apply your yoga and Pilates practice to anti-racism, Ahimsa is not to be silent. Ahimsa is not to say things like love conquers all. It is to take a stand and speak up for social justice and equity.
Ahimsa is the absence of injustice, violence and cruelty. This includes actions, words, and ways of living. Ahimsa means always behaving in a way that takes into account if behavior is causing harm or injustice.
-Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Author of Skill in Action, yoga teacher, social justice activist and Dismantling Racism trainer.
Inaction against racism causes harm and injustice. Let’s practice, learn and study racial justice and yoga- and once we study we must act. I have so much to learn- I am doing self-study through books, podcasts, and workbooks about the history of racism to understand it and to break down the bias that I was taught in our culture of white supremacy. I am committed to bringing awareness and inclusivity to my wellness work in the studio. I will not be silent.
There is so much content available online regarding where to find information about social justice. I hope you have it at your fingertips. If you’d like to be pointed to some of my go-to’s, please contact me.
I have always felt called to be of service to you, my dear students. The way I can support you is through what I know best- and that is movement. If you’ve been feeling anxiety and stress lately, see below for some of my offerings that could help relieve it through movement.