So it was this idea of cultivating Black joy and showing people new ways to do it. For Us, By Us Fitness Finds: Black-Owned Workout Apparel Brands. Black-owned businesses are an integral part of the fabric of Metro Detroit. … I’m worthy of taking up space. My yoga practice definitely supports that, taking walks, calling friends. For Julia and … How Do You Take a Digital Detox in a Pandemic? The whole idea is to meet people exactly where they’re at and leave with tangible takeaways.”. Regular yoga practice has been shown to have tremendous physical, mental and spiritual health benefits. Maximum Price Input. Product Type Toggle Product Type Button. It's a tribe—and the Black women behind Vibes & Vinyasa wouldn't have it any other way. Shondaland spoke with Ferguson and Alexandra about cultivating joy, faith-based yoga, and why body positivity matters. LTP: There are also people who believe you can’t be a Christian and practice yoga. In the fall of 2019, the New York City natives founded Toned by BaggedEm, a fitness-focused brand that not only strives to make women feel seen but also motivates them to push through their fitness obstacles. The pair had to pivot after their original idea for a yoga retreat in Costa Rica was scrapped due to COVID-19. In December 2015, Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson created a GoFundMe campaign to help bring her dream of owning a yoga studio to life. “I think it did bring a spotlight to the need for our product since more people are home and need a mat for meditation, for exercise — yoga, pilates — it can be used for so many different things,” said Julia. It’s also a time for me to be really prayerful. Ferguson shared her idea for such a studio with Paris and the rest, as they say, is yogi history. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. That yoga practice I’m doing is going to support me creatively and support the ideas that come out in a song. Go. When I started my yoga teacher training, I wasn’t sure I could separate being a yoga teacher from an artist. But the sisters say that there is also a bright spot. PARIS ALEXANDRA: Acknowledging the vastness of all my emotions. MadameNoire Featured … But I built up my confidence when I started realizing all the amazing things my body was capable of when I challenged it in a positive way. “It is important for us to realize how important wellness is and how important it is to take care of our bodies,” she added. After raising $2,000 through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding company, the sisters started selling yoga mats featuring images of women with different hair types, head wraps, skin tones, body shapes and sizes. When looking at the fitness industry and wellness spaces, they saw less and less women who looked like them — women with varying skin tones and body types. The founders of BK Yoga Club get real about diversity in wellness and body positivity for all. This is the brand’s first year in business, and with many gyms and yoga studios temporarily shuttered, getting the message out about their products has become a challenge. Another page, Black Owned TPA, has launched to celebrate black-owned businesses throughout the region.You can follow the page on Instagram for daily posts about locally-owned concepts you can support right now. The whole premise behind that is, as Black women, we’re always the strong women holding things down. “And you feel like, you know, she’s rooting for me, she’s here for me, she looks like me.”. AF: People get confused and try to tie yoga to different religions, but it’s not based on any type of religion. This small but carefully curated collection is a favorite among tight, toned and limber devotees of dance fitness, barre, yoga and pole dancing. But who’s going to hold it down for us? Veronica Webb. L’Oreal Thompson Payton is a Baltimore-bred, Chicago-based writer whose work has appeared in ZORA, SELF, Bustle, and HelloGiggles, among others. Size-inclusive and suitable for other sports as well as for street style, the tops, tees, bras, shorts, leggings and bodysuits all coordinate, coming in black… “She’s on her way to work and I’m talking to her while getting my daughter ready for school when she said it in passing and it was just something that stuck,” Julia told CNN. L’OREAL THOMPSON PAYTON: Following Recess, you hosted a “cultivating joy” challenge on Instagram. The brand also puts you firmly in control of how tightly you want your yoga pants to hug the delicious thickness of your powerful calves—without cutting off their blood flow. With an idea and an artist in hand, the sisters created mats featuring women that they see every day — the women in their neighborhoods, their families, their communities. Whether it’s the gentle movements of yoga or the stress-relieving techniques of kickboxing, PIES Fitness Yoga Studio is the place that can shape your life. And, more importantly, they wanted children to look at the mats and see themselves in the images. So creating a space where people can come as they are is very important. The pandemic has also disproportionately impacted people of color. It’s a time for me to use my breath, my body and give thanks to God because He’s amazing. Why is that an important distinction for you to make? “Our mats look like everyday women that you see, they give you confidence. Inspired by their own fitness journeys, they created the Toned yoga mats featuring empowering images of Black women practicing yoga. “The real intention of the retreat was to find joy, to find play and to find rest. Anasa Yoga Black Owned: Katrina Lashea & Jean Marie co-owners. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Much like other businesses across the United States, Toned by BaggedEm has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Support them by adding their products to your shopping cart. “We started with images of Black women because that is whose journeys we most closely relate to, but our goal is to provide representation for all … You can choose to take a stand and still have it come from a space of love and joy. THE-CNN-WIRE ™ & © 2020 CABLE NEWS NETWORK, INC., A TIME WARNER COMPANY. Black-owned yoga studio offering spiritual care packages, spirit-mind-body products, trauma-informed yoga classes & programs. Culture Fit Clothing was founded by West African women who wanted to create … Posted on September 11, 2019 - By Victoria Uwumarogie. ALICIA FERGUSON: There are small things you can implement every day to cultivate joy, specifically because there’s been so much trauma in this country for Black women in particular. “Representation matters,” said Julia. It’s no secret that wellness has a diversity problem. Outside their sisterly bond, however, they found that the same sense of encouragement and motivation was not universal. Me and Paris are really intentional about saying we’re faith-based and not shying away from that because it gives people permission that both can exist. You're gonna get all of this. “Inclusion is a large part of it.”, “The (yoga) mat kind of serves that purpose: she is the sister you never had,” Gibson said when referencing the designs on the yoga mats. “This is a place where you can’t hide,” says Cosby, who addresses students by name as she adjusts their poses. It’s about cultivating the joy within. I use my yoga practice to give honor, give thanks and connect with the breath of life. I’ve owned them for over seven years and have worn them incessantly in and out of the yoga studio. DETROIT— Detroit is the blackest city in America. It’s owned by Keya Nkonoki, a birth doula, pregnancy coach and women’s yoga specialist. For Julia and Cornelia Gibson, fitness is a family affair. The next step was to look for an artist to design the artwork for the yoga mats and, luckily, the sisters didn’t have to look far: their mother, Oglivia Purdie, was a former New York City elementary school art teacher. This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. PA: I see my creative practice as very much connected to my movement practice, which is connected to my spiritual practice. Learn to Love Your Body with These Five Steps, Powerlifting Healed My Relationship With My Body, 17 Black-Owned Businesses to Support Right Now, Listen Up: Your Body Is ‘Summer Ready’ Right Now, "The Mother of Black Hollywood" on Her Own Mother, How Jillian Bell's Film Upped Her Body Confidence. Full Court Sport Bra Top in Mauve. Yoga Gangsters offers a 3-day Yoga Outreach Certification program in several Florida cities, as well as nationally to yoga teachers interested in volunteering. A quick google search of yoga instructors will display largely white, usually thin women. But when I started peeling back the layers, I realized it doesn’t have to be separate. Your financial and energetic support of Black owned yoga studios leads to … What really works at BK Yoga Club is that we’re for everybody and every size. Follow her on Twitter @LTintheCity. Includes bamboo bricks, EVA foam & natural cork yoga blocks. I can be Christian, I can read my Bible, I can believe in God, and I can practice yoga as well. LTP: Paris, how does your background as an artist influence your teaching style? There are certain items in your closet that you just wear to death. And in this black city exists a black-ass yoga studio where you can be your black-ass self. … “We have to find a place to be strong for ourselves because of all the stress that we’re constantly placed over — the lack of resources in the communities, things of that nature,” said Cornelia. In the Bible, we talk about how your body is your temple. I’m still Alicia. I’m worthy to be seen. While coworking spaces like The Wing have become go-to spots for the self-employed, … AF: As Black women, we’re often objectified and overly sezualized. Our family owned and community grown business is proud to invite you all in our pursuit for more eco-friendly, high-quality yoga products. You grow up having all these thoughts and hang-ups about your body. What are your thoughts on that? Yoga Love Black Owned: Treina Alexander. Instead of always looking outward, let’s start within ourselves and let the light shine from the inside out. Recently, Ferguson and Alexandra hosted a one-day virtual wellness retreat called Recess, which included yoga, meditation, a poetry workshop, dance party and much more. Summer bodies are definitely made in … One of the yoga mats sold by Toned by BaggedEm. }, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 killed, including 12-year-old boy, in Grant Co. house fire; 4 others injured, Snow coming to an end, but still watching early week storm - Chris, Sheriff: Three adults found dead in Racine County home, 2 people killed in Fort Atkinson house fire, New details: Town of Middleton woman arrested for homicide after victim's body found in freezer, Boy, 2, recovering after possibly shooting self in Milwaukee, Liddell helps No. Praying is how I find clarity and direction in life. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, From Teacher to Beloved Peloton Instructor. I think for many people yoga is a spiritual encounter and the spirit I’m identifying with is God. “I’ve had a customer tell me that their kid rolls out their mat and says ‘mommy, is that you on the mat?’ that’s always a big accomplishment and the biggest reward for me.”. This list of black-owned wellness brands covers all spaces from healthy snacks to clean beauty. This boutique pregnancy yoga studio has a majority Black teaching staff. As I got older and continued my practice, I had to go through this internal process of telling myself I deserve to be here. My yoga practice is where I check in with my emotions. Our goal has always been to showcase all things good. Black, Latino and Native American people are nearly three times as likely to be infected with Covid-19 than their White counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We took the basic vision of what we wanted to accomplish with the retreat and make it virtual,” Ferguson shares. It’s about making these moments of self-love and self-care a part of our everyday life and understanding our individual experiences of joy are connected to our collective experiences. AF: Yes, I have family members who are like, “Well, I don’t know.” And I’m like it’s still me. Black Owned Yoga Studios in NYC Your daily yoga practice can support anti-racism efforts. I look at yoga as another form of moving prayer for me. .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { Show Discounted. The sisters workout best when they’re together, but even when they’re apart, they are cheering each other on. 10 Black-Owned Yoga Studios Around The Country To Check Out For National Yoga Month. You can send the page a DM to be featured. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I’m plus-sized and I’m an athlete and a three-time half-marathon runner and I have a dance background. You don’t have to be hardened and bitter by everything going on. “And I’m like, that’s something we can actually do, something that would give representation, that’s something that would change a stereotype.”. 10 Wisconsin 74-62, 'We have to do better': City of Madison contracts Catalyst for Change to connect with homeless population. Stacked Yoga studio is small and intimate — the better for personal connection between Cosby and her students. PA: For me, body positivity is saying you can be any size and you can do yoga. The Instagram challenge is about coming back to the idea of play and movement as a form of protest. As part of an ongoing series, SEEN will be highlighting local black-owned establishments in the coming days. Recovery, Resilience, and Revving Up in 2021. For me, this tends to be black yoga pants.While I own a number of leggings in different colors and styles, I only possess one pair of really amazing quality black yoga pants. This is a moment where we can do good for those in our city. Why is it so important to intentionally seek out joy in this moment? In addition to highlighting underrepresented groups, the images also play an important role in dispelling common myths about the ability of different body types to complete a variety of workouts, especially yoga poses. “And it came at the perfect time because there’s so much unrest going on in the country, especially with Black folks, and that is the large majority of the community we serve. August 5, 2019 December 8, 2020. Find 170 listings related to Black Clubs in Downtown St. Petersburg on YP.com. Black Owned Yoga Studios You Should Know. Being able to have these supportive conversations and create spaces for us to unload and share each other. Coming together as a community is where the transformation can be really profound and powerful. I’m going to do my downward dog. I know when I’ve gone to yoga spaces in the past, people would make assumptions and say, “Just be gentle with yourself.” I’m like, I’ve been doing this. It’s really important to see our reflection because when we see ourselves in each other, it gives other people permission to take up their space in their way. LTP: Why do you believe diversity and inclusion in wellness is so important? When we talk about body positivity, it’s about creating a context where people feel like they’re included and seen, where they can be the full expression of themselves. “When you see it like this, it can’t be ignored,” she added. There comes a point when you have to learn how to release. | 703-887-9574 Navigation We like to look at body positivity from a wider lens. Online classes ($12 each) include candle-lit flow and strength-building vinyasa. And if you’ve never practiced yoga, you can come in and we’ll support that process, too. “A lot of things that deter people from keeping their commitment or devoting that time to themselves is that they don’t have much encouragement,” Cornelia Gibson told CNN. Culture Fit Clothing. Full Court first began as a tennis apparel line and ultimately … width: 100% !important; The idea for the mats came to the Gibson sisters in the most conventional way — it was early in the morning and they were on the phone with each other, getting ready to start their day. Get Shondaland directly in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TODAY, How Latino Voters Poised Biden-Harris for Change, From Tragedy to Tread Instructor for Peloton. Support and stabilise your stretches with our range of popular yoga bricks & blocks at Yogamatters. The two registered yoga teachers launched BK Yoga Club, a New York-based body positive studio, in 2019 after first meeting each other during yoga teacher training. yoga mat (12) yoga block (2) Price Toggle Price Facet Button. The virus, coupled with the recent reckoning on race spurred by the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Daniel Prude, Jacob Blake and many more, put even more emphasis on the need for self-care, the sisters said. But Alicia Ferguson and Paris Alexandra aren’t having it. These black-owned yoga spaces are a vital resource for a number of reasons. For a limited time, the brand is also selling mats featuring Black men. A year later, Jackson is successfully sharing the healing art of yoga with the New Orleans community and its many visitors inside of Magnolia Yoga Studio.Magnolia Yoga Studio is the first Black-owned yoga studio in New Orleans. To the idea of play and to find rest back to the idea of cultivating Black joy showing... 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