I once heard it said, that how one shows up to your yoga mat, is how you show up in life.
As I move along this training, I am finding that I need to be prepared and ready to go.
Today is day 3 of my B4C training. It seems like routines are settling in, and we are in the flow of things.
For the next few days, training is taking place at a school around the Boston University Campus. The training space is excellent since it can accommodate a class of almost 100 plus ladies and one gentleman.
The current challenge, the existing meeting space is not air-conditioned. The heat index has been over 90 degrees. This fact has made drinking water a considerable priority. For the last year, I have become pretty consistent at drinking about 120 oz of water. During this training, I am currently drinking about 64 oz of water over that number. This leads to going to the bathroom a lot.
One of the highlights of my day today was our class on Philosophy. It was a very intentional conversation on the different yoga philosophies. This put into context a lot of the modern views of yoga. And how in our society, there is a cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.
I have encountered this phenomenon is simple ways in my life. I have been known to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, yet I am not Irish. However, this is a tangent I am not chasing today. I did want to talk about how our society’s cultural appropriation is so prevalent.
As a champion of equity, I find myself advocating for those in my communities that need a voice. However, I sometimes forget that the voiceless need to be embraced and their cultures understood. When we lack understanding about the basic tenents of other cultures, we tend to insert our own bias and equity in our communities and schools is harder to reach.
Now is equity the sais me as equality? I know the answer…I have studied this. I have seen this in my communities and the schools, I have been privileged to visit.
Perhaps, this discussion is going in a different direction than you anticipated. However, I feel that it is a relevant topic to discuss.
Just like in a yoga mat, we need to learn our limitations when it comes to certain poses. We need to learn to use the props available to us, and we need to strive to build our practice.
This ensures that our practice of yoga a beautiful journey. One that evolves, changes, and allows us to grow more conscious about who we are and what we are capable of becoming.
Why is this relevant to cultural appropriation and appreciation? It is essential to know that we cannot go from thinking Cinco de Mayo is the drink Margarita Holiday, to all of the sudden understanding of the people and events that this day stands for. Like in yoga, this is an evolution. Stretching to be a person who is more open to listening to the practices and values that other cultures have. Setting a goal to practice more understanding and acceptance of the richness of different cultures.
After all, equity and equality are not the same. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same.
Equality at a glance seems to be a good thing. After all, it aims to give everyone the same access. In the same way, Equity seems unfair; however, in reality, this concept seeks to try to level the playing field.
Take, for instance, moms. For decades women have worked for equal rights. However, what we really should have been advocating for was equity. If you have two executives, one male or one female, the norm is that the woman will do her job and assume her wifely and motherly duties. This is why equity is essential. For this reason, in my home, chores are available for Dan to participate in as equally as I am.
But I digress, today I was challenged to see how I have appropriated from other cultures without a thought. My stretch goal going forward will be not to take the beauty of different cultures for granted. Having an appreciation can help us create an accepting world and not one that is riddled with conflict and misunderstanding.
NY RedRose 