My 3 Problems with Yoga “Outreach”
August 6, 2013
Last week, I taught a yoga class at the Anacostia library. But after our lovely class, I left feeling as if I am not helping anyone by teaching yoga.
Sari teaching yoga, but to what end?
Over the last 5 years, I’ve observed wellness outreach services simply come and go in our neighborhood. Without regular wellness services, we rely on erratic volunteers to address our health needs. Yoga Outreach is a feel good term to temporarily solve a persistent problem.
Wellness in my hood. Here today. Gone…today.
Of course, I have 3 major problems with “Yoga Outreach”
1) Can “Yoga Outreach” create jobs?
Yoga District just opened a tea lodge in Foggy Bottom DC and another studio in Glover Park. This expansion created new jobs for yoga teachers, construction opportunities and potential commercial tax revenue! The same resources offered for free in Anacostia are income generators in NW DC. Yoga District’s service was designed to empower their local community.
2) Yoga Outreach programs are not measurable!
How do we know if the free weekly classes at the library are having an impact on our health? What systems are in place to evaluate what yoga interventions work best in our communities? Real health changes depend on data and feedback. Yoga services can be flimsy and unregulated offering no solid framework for measuring success.
3) Yoga Outreach results in victimization!
I can’t even list all the “isms” that come with yoga outreach. Rarely do black, brown, LGBQT or males teach yoga (without pay) in low-income minority neighborhoods. Most “Yoga Service” teachers are white, high-earning women. By removing community ownership, this reinforces the idea that in order to be healthy, we must wait on the benevolence of an unknown, dominant health entity.
Rare sighting! White male volunteering to teach yoga in Anacostia!
Sustainabilty, not just service
I refuse to sit back and complain. So I have designed the “Anacostia Yogi Training” program. This is the first yoga curriculum specifically for 10 local community members to offer sustainable yoga and wellness services. I have raised $3000 through the DiverseCity Fund and looking to raise a total of $10,000!
Donate and expand the Anacostia Yogi Wellness Community
Redirect Your Yoga Outreach!
You can shift yoga outreach in DC by making a tax deductible online donation to the “Anacostia Yogi Training” program in collaboration with DC Social Innovation. *Be sure to designate the “Anacostia Yogi Training Program”*
Donate Online at Network for Good
For more resources on Social Entrepreneurship & program design
READ THE COMMENTS OR ADD YOURS
READ THE COMMENTS
Thanks for this reflection. You raise some really important points. These are really helpful as we develop our own yoga community here in Grenada and consider how we can more deeply make an impact.
Malaika! Yes I love what your family is doing! A comprehensive approach to wellness. NO need for a “hit & quit it” style of yoga outreach does more for the teacher and less for the student.
I would love to visit your set up in Grenada!
Great post! Thank you for shedding light on these issues in wellness outreach. Most of all, I congratulate you on taking a stand to make a positive impact on the outreach problems. “Be the Change you wish to see in the World”. You’ve definitely got me thinking about how we can continue to influence positive shifts here in our Atlanta community.
Hey Shavonna! I love that Om Point Yoga is expanding! If you have any insights that you want to share on outreach, let me know. I want this training to be well rounded.
Hope to see you soon!
Sari
Thanks for this. I am a new yoga teacher (black female) and have recently moved to the DC area. I am highly committed to yoga outreach and your post really reinforced this for me.
Hey congrats on your new certification! I think many of us come to the mat with a sense of inward analysis and outward service. It is a very rewarding feeling to help someone via the study of yoga!
I hope to meet you soon!
Sari
Yes, Sariane, yes!
This is great! I will spread this among my networks and Let me know how I can help!
Excellent article! I wish you nothing but the very best in terms of reaching your goals, and in sharing your unique vision with others in your own community, as well as across the country. You touched on a lot of highly sensitive subjects, and I think you are well on your way to making some really great things happen!
I just ran into this article when I was doing a good ol’ Google search and I don’t 100% agree with your article…I 1000% agree. The points you made are things I have also noticed since moving into the DC area.
I plan to do my yoga teacher certification (funny enough through Yoga District) in the winter and I would like to teach free yoga classes to teens at a community center after I graduate.
Great website and keep up the good work!!!
Hey Dorito Lay!
Congrats on your Yoga TT. Let me know when you complete the program.
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