The Yoga & Social Justice Blog
Intersectional Thoughts
for questions more than answers,
for considerations more than hard, fast rules,
for deep contemplation and earnest seekers
Finally Free Summit 2024
Aiswarya, the Finally Free summit host, addresses cultural insensitivity in a London yoga studio in conversation with Tejal about feeling and being Free.
January 2024 rundown: Solidarity & Clarity
Tejal Yoga's January update features practice themes, new offerings, teacher covers, mutual aid requests, and member testimonials.
The New in the New Year.
Tejal Yoga reflects on gratitude, 2023 highlights, and introduces new offerings for the upcoming year.
Becoming a Swami, conversation with Swami Chidananda
Discover spiritual insights, practical tips, and learn about the path of a swami with Swami Chidananda.
Cultural Appropriation & Sanskrit
Cultural Appropriation of Sanskrit & You with So You Want to Chant Om & Namaste in two parts over two days.
Active Hope vs. Abject Despair
Reflecting on hope, I find strength in active resilience, navigating challenges with purposeful actions.
Action to Expression for #FreePalestine
In our Action to Expression Practice, participants learned about and took actions against the ongoing Palestinian genocide. Access these actions and click the link for various opportunities for education, engagement and reflection.
Action vs. Overwhelm
Read more about staying informed about the genocide in Palestine and humanitarian crisis, advocating for justice, giving aid if possible, and practicing radical accountability in the face of misinformation and divisiveness in the community.
Yoga and Social Justice
Tejal Yoga extends its commitment to cultivating peace and social justice through the transformative practices of yoga, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity, decolonizing wellness, and fostering unity among all people.
Climate Justice and Fashion Activism
Erdene Batzorig from Stand.Earth questions lululemon's relationship-building approach, shares her climate activism journey, and highlights environmental concerns related to the athleisure industry.
Why Summery Vinyasa practices?
Tejal Yoga's Summery Vinyasa practice, a unique blend of stretchy vinyasa, poetry reading, and creative writing, brought a soothing and creatively energizing experience to the community during the Summer Community Challenge.
Spring Yoga Event reflections
The Spring Settling Yoga Event in Santa Monica brought unexpected connections with a yoga student from Moldova, reminding the Tejal Yoga community of the power of meaningful exchange and deep personal reflection.
Community Hour and Decolonized Pilates
Discover solidarity and celebrate Black History Month with Community Hour and Decolonized Pilates events led by inspiring Black yoga teachers, spreading love, peace, and equity in the wellness community.
Sanskrit in yoga? Let’s talk nuance.
The article delves into the nuances of Sanskrit in yoga, emphasizing its cultural significance and importance in yogic teachings while acknowledging its historical role in oppression, urging a thoughtful and respectful approach to its usage in modern yoga practices.
Yet another one-sided whitewashed yoga article.
This critique highlights Tejal’s frustration with another whitewashed yoga article that fails to include diverse perspectives, leading to misrepresentations and perpetuating harmful narratives about yoga's roots and connection to culture.
We’re making yoga more accessible
The blog highlights Tejal Yoga's journey of empowerment, promoting racial equity, and working towards accessibility in the yoga community, culminating in Tejal’s keynote address at the Accessible Yoga Conference.
Yoga and Rap Music
The blog reflects on the power of music, particularly rap, as a connector and a source of hope, highlighting its potential to inspire change and unity, even in the midst of challenges faced by the yoga community.
USA Today: Yogis reflect on the mental benefits of yoga during the pandemic
The USA Today article features Tejal Patel, a yoga teacher and co-host of "Yoga is Dead" podcast, reflecting on how yoga has contributed to her personal growth, enhancing her compassion, empathy, discernment, and overall mental well-being during the pandemic.
KQED: How the Yoga Industry Is Decentering Whiteness
The KQED article discusses the efforts being made in the yoga industry to decenter whiteness, highlighting Tejal Patel's reflections on the harmful and exclusionary dynamics of white-washing and racialization within the space.
Did your schooling cover Indian Survival Day? No? In that case...
In "The Space in Between," Avita Bansee reflects on her unique identity as a Caribbean-American with a hybrid cultural background, challenging notions of authenticity and the policing of her pronunciation while navigating the space between different communities and cultures.