Welcome!
Please take a deep breath, lean back into your own body, and acknowledge the fact that you have just taken a major step in life. I want to acknowledge your bravery in being here. I also want to acknowledge the fact that anyone who is here has come out of a sense of integrity, passion, and curiosity that are to be commended.
How this works/Resources and Links
our group meetings happen Monday afternoons in two sessions. Each will be recorded and the recording will live on its corresponding page (that scroll over on the left).
this zoom link for the 1-2:30 pm CST meeting
this zoom link for the 3:30- 5:00 pm CST meeting
once a month, schedule a 1:1 zoom conversation with me. You can email me at any time.
This term runs from September 14- December 21. We will be on break until January 4, when you begin the Art of Self Care.
PDF of the manual. I send mine to Kinkos to have it printed and bound. Chose black and white to save some money.
Syllabus. So you know exactly when breaks are.
GROUP Norms
Trust the process. Trust yourself and others.
Notice how you take up space. Do you know what style of learner/communicator you are? Practice deep listening and open hearted sharing.
Recognize and practice using your agency: you are in control of what and how much you share in this space. Everyone in this space has the right to opt out or pass on any question, at any time, for any reason.
Practice dialogue - Use “I” statements, feel and identify your emotions, and speak from your own experience.
Respect confidentiality.
Be present. Nothing happens until you and others show up.
Hold yourself and others accountable for creating a culture of respect. Agree to practice anti-racism, honor the gender and sexuality of your peers, and honor yogic tradition while seeing culture as alive.
We do not see people as broken, and Yoga doesn’t fix them. Yoga is an experience for all, including the whole spectrum of body and mind diversity. We’ll try to be mindful of our language, aware of who isn’t in the room, and why.
Helpful Prework
We will be using the language of social justice in this course. Learning a language is empowering as it gives you new alternatives and fosters growth. But it is also hard and often intimidating. Be gentle with yourself and others and recognize that we are all learning. Be patient. Be brave. Connection matters more than perfection.
Characteristics of White Supremacy by Tema Okun
19 minute video, the urgency of intersectionality by Kimberle Crenshaw
19 minute video, How to overcome our biases by Verna Myers
Article: From “Safe Spaces” to “Brave Spaces” Brian Arao and Kristi Clemons
5 minute video, Fight Flight Freeze
5 minute video, Understanding Trauma: survival brain vs. learning brain by Jabob Ham
46 minute East Meets West documentary…this is a great one to stimulate some questions or observations prior to our course of study. What interests you? What is surprising? What is beautiful? What are the implications of a white highly educated cis man studying with a group of yogis? What is ‘the pizza effect?’ What is devotion? and what’s the point?