I’m a 34-year old African-American female and I own a yoga studio. I live OTP. If you’re not from ATL, that’s outside of the perimeter of Interstate 285. I-285 is an interstate that loops the Atlanta city limits. My studio is about 30 minutes from Atlanta but still considered “metro Atlanta.”
Atlanta is hot right now. Many people are relocating for opportunity, advancement, affordable living, and abundant possibility. To balance work, life, and all the things people have turned to the practice of yoga. Yoga is a mind, body, and spirit wellness practice. The city of Atlanta has tons of yoga studios. The burbs’ have fewer options for places to practice yoga.
For many years, US marketing suggested that yoga was meant for young, thin, middle-upper class white women. It’s only been about 5 years that companies have diversified their marketing to include plus size, people of color, veterans, men, first responders, children, and older adults. I applaud organizations for finally trying to remove their blinders to the disparity and misinformation regarding who yoga is for.
Yoga as a wellness practice is life changing. I opened my studio, Indigo Soul Yoga to help people recognize the brilliance and power that lie within their soul. ISY in its infancy was an outlet for people to be and live in authenticity. I never thought about race or gender. It wasn’t until 2019 where it really hit me that I’m black, yet have very few black yoga students.
When I started my company, I wanted people on the southside to have access to yoga without having to drive into the city. Let me give you some history, Indigo Soul Yoga, LLC was formed in December 2016 from my home. I used to offer classes on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the people that came to my classes were black women. There were a few Hispanic, bi-racial and white women that attended but mostly black. Every blue moon one of the ladies would bring their male partner/spouse to class. As I moved from my home to sublet another space the students changed; there were more white people and more athletes. Most of the students who attended classes at my house stopped coming….and most haven’t come back (reality of small business).
When I opened my first brick and mortar studio in 2017, I was a solopreneur. The day my studio opened there were quite a few people of color who attended, several of which were friends who wanted to show support. After the grand opening most of the students who came through the doors were white women, with a periodic sprinkling of brown/black, and a few men here and there.
One year later I relocated to a larger space with more foot traffic, more students, more teachers, and more classes. I have a diverse team of teachers, white, black, Hispanic, male, female, ages 20-60, and with varying political opinions. What has remained constant over time, is that most of the students are white women (early 30s-40s). I probably have as many men that attend class on a regular basis as black women. I am usually one of those people who don’t look at race and just take people as they are. However, while completing my doctoral studies and analyzing data which included race and gender, I began to think about these 2 factors in my own organization.
On a global scale, I want people to feel safe, comfortable, and informed in my studio. Most people who attend classes say they feel welcome, challenged, and educated on options for poses, meditation, and breath work. What I don’t understand is why the brown/black women who start attending class don’t continue. I find this fact interesting, as most men (black and white) who attend classes continue as their schedule allows but the women of color don’t. In the past I have offered $5 yoga, free yoga in the park, and other discounts to help make yoga affordable for all people. I have spoken to other yoga studio owners and yoga teachers and have received interesting advice such as, “offer trap yoga,” “offer sensual yoga,” “offer twerk yoga,” “sex-ed,” and more.
I have to say those are great ideas, but they aren’t me. I have to remain true myself. If I want my students to stand in authenticity and speak their truth, then I must do the same. I’m not one for gimmicks and tricks. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy trap music, but trap yoga isn’t the direction I’m meant to go. If I plan to own my studio, my brand, and be an ever evolving me, trap/twerk/sensual yoga isn’t going to be part of the plan when I’m 60 years old.
I have taught urban flow and hip-hop yoga before. They were fun classes but not something that I want to offer 7 days a week. I have offered and will continue to offer specialty events and workshops that align with my spirit and that of my organization. Over the last several months, I have continued to think what can be done to reach more people of color and men. I have received ideas of reaching out to male dominant organizations, as well as organizations that focus on people of color. I have made some contacts, but they didn’t result in class attendance.
One of my teachers, Octavia Raheem told me “keep doing what you’re doing. It matters and makes a difference. We don’t plant seeds and reap harvest in the same season.” This statement was so powerful that I reflect back on it frequently. When entrepreneurship gets hard, I remind myself to continue planting the seeds and watering them; my harvest will come.
After reading all of this you are likely saying, “so now what; you still don’t have many black women or men coming to your classes.” My response is oh well. I am doing the work that I have been called to do. What I have learned over the last 3 years is that every student is not my student. Students come and go. Those who stay are meant to be for a season and I know that they too will go on. In my spirit, I know I have been called to work and pursue my passion of wellness and empowerment through yoga, meditation, and rest.
I now realize that I must remain steadfast and true to my core values and mission. The people that I am meant to reach will be reached. The lives I am meant to help change will be changed. I choose to continue to do the work. I choose to continue to show up for my students. If there are 20 students or 1 student, each receives 110% from me.
If you are a woman of color or man that desires to grow in your yoga practice, I’m here for you. If you are not a woman of color, or a man, I am here for you as well. My studio has a motto “All are welcome here.” I desire for all people and all abilities to have access to yoga, just like all people need access to healthcare. If you have questions on starting a yoga practice in person, or from home feel free to drop me a message and I’ll be happy to help you.
