Inclusivity Scholarship with High Yoga & Mandem On The Mat
Yoga is a practice that has gained immense popularity in recent years, with people all over the world embracing it for its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. However, despite its growing popularity, the yoga community has struggled with a lack of diversity and inclusion. The Black community and South Asian groups, in particular, have historically been underrepresented in the yoga community. At High Yoga School, we are working to combat this by offering inclusivity scholarships for all our 200-hour and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs and an Inclusivity and Equity module within our 200-hour course.
The barriers to accessing yoga for the Black community and South Asian groups are many. These barriers include financial constraints, a lack of representation in the yoga industry, and cultural barriers. Furthermore, the image of the "perfect yoga body" has been perpetuated in media and marketing, creating a cultural barrier that discourages people who do not fit that mould from practising yoga. Yoga has also been marketed to and by a predominantly white, middle-class demographic, with yoga studios often located in affluent areas that are not easily accessible to low-income communities.
(Did you know that Mona, one of our lead-teachers, offers online mixed vinyasa and yin classes on a sliding scale? Check out her schedule here).
At High Yoga School, we believe that everyone should have access to the benefits of yoga, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. That's why we are offering three scholarships for autumn 2023. The first scholarship is our regular inclusivity scholarship, which covers half of the fees for anyone who identifies as Black or South Asian. For more information or to apply, click here. The other two scholarships are sponsored by Mandem On The Mat and cover the total fees for two Black male students. For more information or to apply, click here.
The importance of these scholarships cannot be overstated. By providing financial support, we hope to break down the financial barrier that has prevented many people from accessing yoga. We also hope that by providing these scholarships, we can encourage more Black and South Asian students to become yoga teachers and return the practice to their communities. Representation is crucial in the yoga industry, and we believe that creating a more diverse and inclusive community of yoga teachers is essential to the growth and evolution of yoga as a practice.
In addition to our scholarships, we also have an Inclusivity & Equity module as a regular part of our 200-hour course - which is taught by the incredible Jonelle Lewis (add her video to the bottom). This module tackles difficult subjects such as cultural appropriation, racism, privilege, positionally (an individual's position or perspective within a social, political, or cultural context), and much more. As new yoga teachers, we need a comprehensive understanding of these issues and what we can do to make a difference.
We encourage everyone to share these opportunities with their communities online and offline. In addition to sharing this information, we encourage our readers to think about how they, too, can contribute to a more diverse community. This could include offering scholarships, supporting studios and teachers who prioritise diversity and inclusion, and amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups in the yoga community, especially online. Do you practice with or follow any Black or South Asian teachers? If you have any questions about our scholarships, get in touch. We're always glad to connect.
Check out
Inclusivity & Equity with Jonelle Lewis
