Episode 17 - Michelle C. Johnson - Uncomfortable Conversations About Racism and Yoga
Episode 17 - Michelle C. Johnson - Uncomfortable Conversations About Racism and Yoga
Social justice is ultimately everyone’s responsibility. Yoga philosophy and practice can be a foundation for seeing and advocating for a more just world. Chara and Maria talk with Michelle C. Johnson, a yoga teacher, clinical social worker and dismantling racism educator about the unique challenges for people of color in the current global uprising related to the Black Lives Matter movement. We unpack terms like “spiritual bypassing” and “cultural appropriation” and talk about the personal and collective tools we’ll need to keep this vital conversation moving in the direction of change.
In this conversation we talk about:
How Michelle is holding hope and heartbreak in this moment.
How to make sure the work to dismantle racism is sustainable.
How the term BIPOC directly speaks to racial hierarchy.
What is social justice and how does it apply to yoga?
What is spiritual bypassing?
How bodies are political and what it means to be embodied.
How reflecting on our social location can be a tool for reflection on both our experience of oppression and assigned privilege.
What do people of colour need to do in this moment? And what do white folks need to do?
How do we keep this conversation going?
How yoga teaches distress tolerance - a key skill for doing the work of dismantling racism.
What is cultural appropriation?
Why saying, “I don’t see colour” doesn’t work.
Tokenism
Resources & Mentions
Michell C. Johnson Website - https://www.michellecjohnson.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skillinaction/?hl=en
Dismantling Racism Works Website - https://www.dismantlingracism.org/
Round about now, if you’re like anyone (or everyone) you’re thinking about the promises you’ll make to yourself and the many ways you’ll change your habits and behaviours in 2023.