Off the Mat

This page is just the beginning. It is where we will share how our yoga shows up Off the Mat. Just like our asana practice, there is no end in our growth. There is only commitment, maintenance, practice and perseverance. The Yoga Loft is committed to being a leader and a connector. We will provide discussions, resources and education through this page and hope to be a voice for change in our community.

We pledge our commitment to providing an inclusive, safe and welcoming space for all people, ages, abilities, stages, preferences and identities.

We have to keep the conversation going and we are eager to take action.

Crisis in Ukraine

We have been moved by the non-profit Razom, which provides urgent support in the face of an extreme and unforeseen situation in Ukraine. Today, the sovereign nation of Ukraine has to deal with the most horrendous and catastrophic emergency – a brutal invasion. Razom is responding to this by providing critical medical supplies and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians.

Our Commitment to Racial Justice

This page is meant to be a helpful resource to become better allies in the fight against systemic racism. Allyship is not a destination, but a journey of learning and growing that we must commit to for the long-term.

As part of the Yoga Loft's anti-racism work, we pledge to ...

• Proactively diversify The Yoga Loft community across three areas; teachers, students, and staff.

• Proactively diversify the products and the presentation of the brand in marketing, advertising, and other media to include the faces of the underrepresented audiences we seek and not just the audiences we have.

• Host workshops and special events that are led by a diverse group of instructors.

• Institute a zero tolerance policy in our community for racist or discriminatory language. 

• Organize and encourage open discussion groups about issues of race in our community and continue to share resources for anti-racism work.

• Share racial justice resources, information and voices.

The list below is not comprehensive, and we do not claim to be experts on these issues. We hope this can serve as a starting point for us to do this work together. Please reach out to us directly if you would like anything added or changed here.

Past #OffTheMat Conversations

End of Year Reflections & Intention Setting for 2021 with Julie Helmes

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Julie led a meditation and journaling exercise to clear the mind of 2020 and create intentions for a new year and new beginning. Participants left with a sense of calm and a draft of their personal mantra.

Reflections on the Ted Talk: Understanding Structural Racism by Luiza Lodder

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Ali Janavaris led a conversation about the Ted Talk Understanding Structural Racism by Luiza Lodder. Click here to watch (16-minutes). The group reflected on the conversation and the relationship we each have with structural racism. At the end, participants chose something to work on, share, or be more aware of moving forward.

Belonging - Embodied Practices for Living Social Change

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Read the Conversation Summary

References: 

• Building bridges and belonging. (2020, July 07). Retrieved October 4, 2020 from https://wagingnonviolence.org/metta/podcast/building-bridges-otherness-belonging-john-a-powell/

• Gleiser, K. (2018). Seeing the Invisible The Role of Recognition in Healing from Neglect and Deprivation. Retrieved October 04, 2020, from https://aedpinstitute.org/transformance-talks-webinars/seeing-the-invisible-the-role-of-recognition-in-healing-from-neglect-and-deprivation/

• Othering and belonging conference. (n.d.). Retrieved October 04, 2020, from http://conference.otheringandbelonging.org/videos

• Scharmer, C. O. (2016). Theory U: Leading from the futures as it emerges: The social technology of presencing. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler ,Inc. a BK Business book.

• Turner, T. (2017). Belonging: Remembering ourselves home. Salt Spring Island, British Columbia: Her Own Room Press.

• Varela, F. J., Thompson, E., & Rosch, E. (1993). The embodied mind: Cognitive science and human experience. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Websites:

• https://belonging.berkeley.edu/johnpowell

• https://belonging.berkeley.edu/towardbelonging

• https://www.presencing.org/

• https://toko-pa.com/

• https://www.resmaa.com/about