The exercises we do in my class are sometimes inspired by, but are not, yoga! Yoga is a spiritual tradition rooted in thousands of years of Hindu teachings, which I am not qualified to promote. My own movement practice and teaching offerings are influenced by all of: years of physical therapy, the Americanized yoga trainings I’ve taken, a certificate in accessible yoga, Missy Elliot’s aerobics ball dance, my favorite teachers at Dance Church and Jazzercise, and laying on rocks in silence by Pacific Northwest creeks and rivers.

No doubt many of us have found bodily and mental peace from the physical, emotional, and community practices of what has been called “yoga” in American culture. Cultural appropriation of this practice is harmful and should be ended. AND - we can simultaneously hold positive feelings for the yoga teachings we do know, however they made their way to us. For more thoughts on yoga and cultural appropriation, check out this Medium article "How White Yoga Harms Hindu People & Culture" or this lovely IG post from @chiara.acu that poses some questions we can ask ourselves about appropriation in any realm.