Let’s cultivate a safe and brave atmosphere
community guidelines
Our vision and intention for our collective shared space is steeped in our commitment to decolonization and collective liberation. To foster a safe and brave space together, we have adapted the following guidelines from Susanna Barkataki’s Embody Yoga’s Roots YTT trainings and courses.
Yoga Ethics are foundational to these guidelines, and honoring them together is part of our yoga practice, part of our atmosphere.
अहिंसा || AHIMSA || non-harm
We embrace ahimsa in our movement practice by showing kindness and compassion towards our bodies, avoiding pushing ourselves beyond our limits to conform to any external ideal or shape. We practice compassionate accountability, especially in our willingness to own and speak up around microaggressions when appropriate
Respect is at the core of all of our interactions. We speak from our experience and from the heart. We listen deeply from the heart and practice active listening.
ईश्वर प्रणिधान || ISHVARA PRANIDHANA || sovereignty
We integrate sovereignty into our movement practice by honoring our personal autonomy and listening to our bodies. We make space and hold space for one another, and we take space. We embrace imperfection and dismantle perfectionism.
सत्य || SATYA || truth
We practice radical honesty in all of our interactions. We hold awareness of multiple truths and be willing to acknowledge that someone’s truth may be different from ours. We honor our personal truth on the mat by practicing with authenticity, without self-judgement
स्वाध्याय || SVADHYAYA || self-inquiry
We use our practice as an opportunity to explore our inner world; to observe and hold space for our thoughts, emotions, and patterns without judgment. We bring our whole selves into the space and speak from our own experiences, using ‘I’ statements. We acknowledge our own positionality, privilege, power, and ally-ship.
तपस् || TAPAS || right effort
We balance effort with compassion, and we trust that disciplined practice leads to transformation. We cultivate consistency and dedication in our practice and show up with commitment, while making space for ebbs and flows.