UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK Soul-Full Yoga + Somatic FREEDOM Dance |Online

I founded Unapologetically Black Yoga  to build compassionate spaces for Black people  of African descent to feel a deep sense of belonging and  move and breathe freely. As an experienced, racial trauma, trained yoga teacher, I believe it is vital to have choice and non linear movements to give the Black body a felt sense of freedom.  My studies in advanced yoga therapy  brings  a perspective of holistic wellbeing rather than body sculpting and over stretching to my practice. As  a somatic dancer, I believe the body can guide us into healing and liberation when we allow it to move us.I have worked as a therapist in mental health for many years, specialising in Black people’s mental health experience and VAWG. I proudly integrate my  African, Caribbean & Black British heritage into my free movement and yoga  philosophy. I am a life long student of meditation and sacred dance. I believe in  the powerful wisdom of  our heart and  the truth in our body, to bring  us home to our highest state of balance and wellbeing.Sometimes I wobble in tree pose.Sometimes I have hot flushes as I steer through my second spring.Sometimes I sing when I’m not listening to the reasons not to.https://youtu.be/qNgDx0A67SQHttps://unapologeticallyblackyoga.co.uk/

Oya Heart Warrior

Black people of African ancestry come join UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK Yoga + Freedom Movement  for Black Joy & Pain. Sun12.00pm UK/ 7.00am ET

SOMATIC DANCE FREEDOM▪️YOGA▪️RETREATS▪️BLACK JOY

Tending to Black Body Joy and Well-Being with Accesible  Yoga, Free Movement, Meditation and Decolonised Affirmations. Free and Affordable Online classes and  Soulful Retreats for the Black community from the African Diaspora

I'm so glad you will be joining us for Unapologetically Black Yoga Joy. 
You are welcome just the way you are and represented  here.
 This one hour practice is delivered on zoom on Sunday at 11.00 AM UK time (6.00 AM EST/ 5AM CST). Please make every effort to attend if you've registered knowing you WILL be welcomed here and can do this  yoga.
You will receive a zoom link just before the practice. Please read this information carefully. Please  be on time to hear the introduction.  You are respectfully required  to have your camera on for health and safety and to build our visual community,  supportive presence. I ask us to see each other and ourselves with kindness and non - judgement. 
Do have some water, a couple of cushions to hand if possible, and a quiet place to practice.  You don’t need a yoga mat, a rug, or towel is also fine. 

Oya Heart Warrior

<h2>Oya Heart Warrior would like to share somatic pratices, tender yoga, freedom dance + liberating meditation with you. Our unique practice is dedicated to Black Joy and pain, and to the wellbeing of Black Women, Black Men and Black non-binary people of African descent, (mixed heritage Black people of African descent people are warmly welcome).</h2>

<h3>(Remember you can register with a donation less than the fee if you need to).<br><br><strong><strong>Feel welcome to join our next in-person event </strong></strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unapologetically-black-somatic-dance-liberation-sound-bath-rest-tickets-616422194377" title="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unapologetically-black-somatic-dance-liberation-sound-bath-rest-tickets-616422194377" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a><strong><strong> </strong></strong><strong><strong>follow us on Instagram </strong></strong><a href="https://instagram.com/unapologeticallyblackyoga?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" title="https://instagram.com/unapologeticallyblackyoga?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>here</strong></strong></a><strong><strong>. You are welcome to join our practices on YouTube </strong></strong><a href="https://youtube.com/channel/UCfdmDHNJPjg3HRVUCVygLwQ" title="https://youtube.com/channel/UCfdmDHNJPjg3HRVUCVygLwQ" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>here</strong></strong></a><strong><strong>. You can also check out our website </strong></strong><a href="https://unapologeticallyblackyoga.co.uk/" title="https://unapologeticallyblackyoga.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>here</strong></strong></a><strong><strong> to know more about us.</strong></strong></h3>

<h2>This is not your usual yoga class - we centre, agency, intuitive movement and Black affirming mantras to uplift Black lives.</h2><h3><strong><strong>We use story telling through movement and have down to earth mantras like:-</strong></strong></h3><h2>'Don't bruk up yourself'</h2><h2>'Big up yourself'</h2><h2>'Free up yourself'</h2><h2>☀️ ☀️</h2><h3>We offer accessible, therapeutic yoga, somatic practices, freedom movement and meditation practices designed to:- release stress, metabolise pain, cultivate Black joy and boost our collective wellbeing. We rejuvenate our bodies and connect to our spirit with effortless power.<br><br>Black people have had enough pain &amp; judgment, so we stretch while<strong><strong> 'centring our comfort', we</strong></strong> strengthen without <strong><strong>‘brukking up' </strong></strong>ourselves. We bring rhythm, free movement, calming restorative practices and empowering meditation to<strong><strong> 'big up ourselves' &amp; 'free up ourselves'. We tend</strong></strong> to our own wellbeing, from the deep well of our ancestral knowing and embodied wisdom.</h3>

<h2>We honour ourselves &amp; each other in a loving, all Black space. I promise you a warm welcome and an hour of quality time together, where you are greeted with warmth &amp; cherished just the way you are (honestly people sometimes rest throughout the whole class with no judgement).</h2><p><br></p><h3>Our Unapologetically Black Yoga classes celebrate Black Joy while holding our pain and making a stand against anti-Black Racism. Our accessible practices can help with stress, anxiety, fatigue, loneliness, grief, and racial trauma. Our gentle therapeutic movement addresses mental health issues as well as physical issues like:- joint care, arthritis, muscle flexibility, physical fitness, auto-immune illness, cellular nutrition, IBS, menopause symptoms, pain relief, hypertension, heart health, and much more.</h3><p><br></p><h3>Our practice is very different from what we call performance yoga, that sculpt you into set poses, perfected by the often bendy white teacher. This has no recognition of our body, our vibe, our discomfort, our health issues, our ancestral vitality or our racialised scars.</h3>

<h2>You won’t find the traditional yoga sequences, instructions, mantras or approaches here. If you are seeking this - you will be disappointed.</h2><p><br></p><h3>We’ve developed many original sequences that support Black people to move with intuitive wisdom and choice over our body. We invite ease of breathing and movement to uplifting rhythms that affirm Blackness in all of our complex diversity. We celebrate the dynasty of the free, Black body in all of our skin tones, shapes, identities and abilities.</h3><p><br></p><h2>You really don’t have to be fit, flexible, thin, dark, have locks, or be a certain ‘Black way’. You don't have to feel political, spiritual, or have done any yoga before. All Black body identities, backgrounds and abilities are welcome to Unapologetically Black Yoga for all Black and Mixed Race People from the African diaspora.</h2><p><br></p><h3>You are invited to do what feels good for you (even if you want/need to simply rest in the belonging of this positive Black space), and to take away or add what feels right. Your wisdom, your power, and your choice are the priority here.</h3>

<h2>This is a unique expression of non-linear, trauma sensitive Yoga for Black people, that addresses anti-Black racial trauma from a place of being already resourced. We don’t think you will find this unique expression of yoga anywhere else.</h2><p><br></p><h3><strong><strong>NOTE </strong></strong>- You are respectfully required to have your camera on, and to be visible during the practice to affirm our Black presence together. Note, everyone is generally looking at the teacher in speaker view, and not you. 🙏🏿</h3>

<h2>Our Unapologetically Black Yoga, is offered at low cost, and by donation to Black people of African descent, to support our access to wellbeing services. I thank you for all the gifts you give so compassionately to this world.</h2><p><br></p><p>Founder ~ Oya Heart Warrior ~ 🙏🏿 Find out more about Unapologetically Black Yoga<a href="https://unapologeticallyblackyoga.co.uk/" title="https://unapologeticallyblackyoga.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> here</a></p><p><br></p><h2>Why Black only spaces? Kujichagulia (Self-Determination). To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.</h2><p>Please see:</p><blockquote>My Grandmother’s Hands - By <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0141996471/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_PW2QD8XHR01W91XP3SJH?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1" title="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0141996471/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_PW2QD8XHR01W91XP3SJH?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Resmaa Menakem</a></blockquote><blockquote>And</blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://arrow-journal.org/why-people-of-color-need-spaces-without-white-people/" title="https://arrow-journal.org/why-people-of-color-need-spaces-without-white-people/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kelsey Blackwell</a></blockquote><h3>Axé (the breath of life manifest and also a mantra that means - 'so it is')</h3>

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