We’re making yoga more accessible

I'm really looking forward to sharing with you at the Accessible Yoga Conference, but before I do that, here's the story behind "The Audacity of Hope for Yoga" presentation...

If you've been with me since the podcast came out then you know it hasn't always been easy to just teach yoga. In fact, the path was riddled with doubt and confusion, people telling me no, and quite a bit of cultural insensitivity and racism. It didn't start when we released the episdode White Women Killed Yoga, this was happening for a long time before that moment.

On Accessibility

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The people telling me no and the cultural insensitivity and racism has been hard and challenging to navigate. At first, I was shocked by the dichotomy of these experiences. Something would happen and I would be in shock or laid up for a few days completely consumed by it, but the offending party wouldn't experience any interruption or a second thought about their behaviour. It was appaling and it often made and makes me want to quit. Instead, I chose my 1-1 conversations wisely and turned to my community for support and brainstorming. Now, a few things have changed for the better.

Back when I was going through it, both internally and externally, I decided that the focus of my work through abcdyogi, Tejal Yoga, and Yoga is Dead would be on education and empowerment to equip students to be more equitable and inclusive. These orgs and this focus is what sets apart my work from any other person teaching yoga, even from my colleagues sharing about the natural intersection of yoga and social justice.

Recognizing that we all have gifts that we express in unique and different ways has been a monumental realization. And I am so grateful that I have amazing community and friends to call on for support, kindness, and to be reminded of the unique brilliance that comprises each of us. That's important, it truly matters in this landscape of homogenized wellness where instagram following count, a full face of make-up, and good lighting seems to take up more space than the reality of our multi-dimensional existence and inner call for connection.

I've often questioned the trajectory of the yoga industry and its departure from authenticity. Which is a huge factor in why Anjali and Jivana asked me to be one of the keynote speakers at this year's Accessible Yoga Conference online. The theme of "Moving from Me to We" zeroes in on the projects and work that I do to uplift South Asian yoga and mindfulness teachers which in turns uplifts all of us.

You're invited to dig into this theme more with me tomorrow night as I present my reasons as to why we all need Hope to keep doing the work we do, to revisit and reinstall the deeper meaning and truth of yoga back into our lives and our relationships.

"In this inspiring address, be reminded of yoga’s true intention: to create more space for each individual to simply be. Tejal offers the story and vision of Tejal Yoga while touching on yoga’s journey to the West, for a side by side comparison to how each individual’s path inevitably takes twists and turns while working towards healing. Reaffirm your goal for yoga’s teachings to be the way towards community spaces and community care.

Bring an open heart and an inquiring mind."

It all starts tomorrow with a pre-conference intensive at 11:30a pst, followed by a welcome by Anjali and Jivana, then my keynote address at 3:30p pst.
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Check out the full schedule here.

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The doubt and confusion is part of my personal journey and every day I get closer to unraveling these threads and healing at the source of it all. One resource I'm currently using is the Goodbye, Imposter Syndrome presentation and workbook from Layla F. Saad's Become a Good Ancestor Co. I am committed to working through it during October and November. What are you working on to overcome impostery thoughts? I'd love to know, share with me here.