Inclusivity & Community
Inclusivity and Community at Circle Yoga
Since Circle Yoga's founding in 2003, we have been focused on being a welcoming community for all. However, today we are asking tough questions of ourselves and learning from teachers from diverse backgrounds with the goal of becoming a more inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist community.
As part of this process, we will begin working with Michelle Cassandra Johnson in August 2022 and continue into 2023. Michelle is an author, anti-racism consultant and trainer, and yoga teacher and practitioner. She has led dismantling racism work in many settings for over two decades and also has a background as a clinical social worker. Michelle has spent over a decade centering conversations and practice around the intersection of social justice and yoga.
We first connected with Michelle after reading her book, Skill in Action, which explores the intersection of social justice and yoga. She led a weekend training for the 300HR Circle Yoga Teacher Training in 2020, and she led a discussion on her book, Finding Refuge, earlier this year.
What I know to be true of the work of creating inclusive and liberatory spaces is that the “work” is actually a practice, which suggests it is ongoing and we will learn along the way.
Michelle Cassandra Johnson
We are looking forward to our continued work with Michelle—and to the years of work and relationship-building ahead to make our yoga community one where all can find a sense of connection, ease, and belonging.