Dear Yogi Friends, 

Did you know that today is Juneteenth? This is a day that marks the moment when emancipation finally reached those in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy. On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that those enslaved were now free. As we celebrate this event, we should also understand that the progress that has been made in the last 156 years does not nearly amount to enough. We must stand and align with all who value racial equality, freedom and injustice, because Yoga teaches us, ahimsa – “to do no harm.”

The aim of yoga is to guide us from suffering and towards liberation. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, yoga is defined as stilling the fluctuations of the mind. Patanjali tells us that we must embark on this journey so that we can live in our “own true splendor.” Due to the nature of life, we cover this knowledge of our true selves, which is called avidya – "or ignorance." This is considered the root of all of our human afflictions. 

Yoga offers a path to overcome our obstacles and afflictions; it allows us to brighten our light of discernment and recognize our own ignorance. This may be an arduous journey, but one that is necessary to undertake for our fellow human beings experiencing injustice. 

We hope that you will join us on the journey to confront and undo systemic racism within our communities. If you are looking to educate yourself and unpack you own biases, we strongly recommend visiting the following sites where there is an abundance of engaging perspective -

Each 1 Teach 1, Inc.
Ctznwell
Change Cadet
I Believe in Me, Inc.

We would like to recognize and extend gratitude to our Yogamour teacher, Danica Warden for allowing us to use her lovely picture in this newsletter. Danica teaches at the Yogamour Studio every Monday at 6pm. She is also the founder of Each 1 Teach 1 in Frederick, Maryland.

May the light in each of you shine bright and recognize the light in ALL humankind.

Namaste,

Geni, Beccah and The Yogamour Family