Liftup program
Our community continues to grow and expand. We love seeing you come through the doors or sign on at home. Each day brings in new students from different backgrounds, and we get to watch you meet and enjoy each other too. We are constantly working to ensure each of you knows and feels that you are seen, included, and belong. Not just that you belong in Up Yoga but that you belong anywhere and everywhere you go. This practice is for you to take space!
We speak about being intentional, and we’re acting on that intention with a new program called “LiftUp.” LiftUp is intended to create deeper awareness and sangha for groups who may feel underrepresented in our space and Yoga. We are starting with focusing on National Heritage Months.
February is Black History Month, and the theme is 'Black Resistance'. We have harm caused within the Black community, which goes against the first Yama - ahimsa (non-harm). Praciting satya (truthfulness), when we look deeper into the yoga industry, we see underrepresentation of Black students and teachers. Yet, notable Black individuals such as Rosa Parks, Tina Turner and Angela Davis. Read more here:
Rosa Parks Yoga
Angela Davis yoga for resistance to heal
Ericka will host our first LiftUp sangha on February 25th at 1 pm in our studio lobby for Black-identifying students and staff only. It is free to sign up. We also invite you to share with someone who wants to be introduced to yoga and be part of our growing community.
A sangha is a community practicing dharma (living our life’s purpose) together to bring about and maintain awareness. The essence of a sangha is understanding, acceptance, belonging, and togetherness. Consider this a space to meet and get to know each other better, talk Yoga, or anything else you’d like.
As we commemorate this month, think about how you can commit to karma (action) and the daily practice of creating space and LiftUp Black voices, current students and new students.
We will host many more of these sanghas, and I would love for you to reach out with any ideas, questions, or comments as we learn and grow together in community.