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How to be an LGBTQIA+ ally in Yoga and as a Yoga teacher (a thread) 🏳️‍🌈

Being an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community is the authentic purpose of Yoga. Yoga translates as unity. Through the practice we learn the concept of Ahimsa (non violence) which is support and acceptance in action.

An Ally is a person who not only wholly sees and accepts a person just as they are. An Ally has a strong concern for the wellbeing and happiness for LGBTQIA+ community and actively advocates for equal rights and challenges anything against that.

Educate yourself and stay informed. It is vital to know the basic terms and pronouns but by also learning and understanding the history of the LGBTQIA+ community those concepts have deeper resonance and depth. They are not just words but landmarks in acceptance.

It is your role as a Yoga teacher to do everything in your power to create a space that is intentionally safe and welcoming to all. Get to know ALL your students preferred pronouns. Be present, non judgemental, listen and create spaces where people can be raw and vulnerable.

Language can connect or isolate us. In Yoga we must use inclusive language. Use non gendered open greetings "Hi friends/everyone". In cueing body parts use "Your" over "The" this gives people a sense of agency and connection with their body that they may have been detached from

Many LGBTQIA+ carry a level of trauma from their experiences. This can lead to disempowerment + detachment from their body. Yoga is such a healer here. A trauma informed yoga CPD course can be invaluable as an Ally to aid healing in an informed way.

Instead of telling LGBTQIA+ Yogis how they should feel invite curiosity and self inquiry. You could say "In my body I feel XYZ ...how about you?" This helps reclaim their own power and identity.

Be conscious of your language. If you mess up apologise and invite a conscious conversation to learn how to adapt teaching, cues or language to feel open and inviting.

Be genuine and authentic in your ally ship. It is not a performance it's true acceptance, caring, unity, connection and using the power of yoga for its truest purpose.

Consent is everything! Do not offer hands on adjustments or challenging deep work without gaining consent and checking in regularly. 🏳️‍🌈

The importance of self care for the LQBTQIA+ community (a thread) 🏳️‍🌈

Sadly it can still be difficult to access safe, gender affirming, bias free, understanding and safe care for LGBTQIA+ people. Reclaiming power over your mind, body and spirit through yoga is so empowering and self compassionate.

Practice radical self acceptance for who you are, just as you are. A daily gratitude practice can slowly start to build self knowing and confidence that can make LGBTQIA+ unshakeable in challenges. Start small and direct one grateful kind thought to yourself everyday.

Care and tend to your body like a garden. Despite times you may have felt like an interloper by society understanding the beauty, power, non judgement of a body that grows, blooms and moves, a heart that beats, lungs which breathe. Connect with what feels good in your body.

Rest when you need to rest. Go easy and gentle on yourself. Practice non judgement to your innate bodies needs. Reform that primal natural connection to your bio rhythms. This kind of connection is important to over come disassociation and detachment.

Move like art. Make art. Remember you are art. Create and express yourself but do it in ways for fun rather than trying to make it perfect. Life's messy and who wants to live within the lines any way!

Practice breath work. Not only important for self soothing anxiety, stress or emotion knowing that you can control your breath and physiological response in situations reminds you that you are in control and bolsters self knowing.

The practice of meditation reminds us how fleeting our thoughts can be. How they can either pass by or consume us. Understanding this helps us realise that negative thoughts, worries or judgements work similarly. You are worth so much more than fickle thoughts. 🏳️‍🌈