Unity.

Dear Wild Lights,
 
There is so much happening around the nation right now in response to the killing of George Floyd.  As a studio and a place of community gathering dedicated to social justice and transformation, both individual and collective, we have an active part to play in what is happening.  Police reform is long overdue, and we are calling loudly for an end to systemic racism.
 
Systemic racism is very much alive and has been part of our world for as long as any of us can remember.  It’s insidious and none of us are exempt from participating in it on some level, be that through stereotyping, cultural aphorisms that degrade people of color, or even the yogic/spiritual beliefs that “we are all one” and “everything/everyone is love.”  What happened to George Floyd is not an isolated or unique incident, but we are finally enraged enough as a nation to fight for what we know is right…for the equality, recognition, and freedoms that people of color deserve as their birthright on this planet.  We will never be able to make amends for the trauma we have caused, and this is a really hard reality to swallow, especially for those of us who are White.  However, we can stand up right now and be a voice among many other powerful voices for change.
 
As White, heterosexual, cisgender studio owners, we will never fully understand how it feels to be a person of color, and we will never be qualified to speak on behalf of those who have been affected on any level by the rampant racism in our country.  We are allies in the fight for social justice, we stand with the Black Lives Matter movement, and we are committed to taking an active role toward change in our community.  Yoga is a practice of walking the path that recognizes in every single person the innate capacity for love and belonging…living the value that all lives matter.  And for that to mean anything at all, Black Lives must matter.  Transgender Lives must matter.  Other Abled Lives must matter.  Otherwise none of it matters.
 
We will be holding two donation-based classes over the next week.  All proceeds will go toward the Black Visions Collective, an organization in Minnesota “dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation.”  We will be live-streaming these classes so you can join us on Zoom if you are unable to make it into the studio.  We realize that this is a difficult time financially for many of us, the studio included.  At the same time, we need to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak, if we truly believe in creating change.  We have a minimum $20 donation for these classes and the studio will match all individual donations up to $500.
 
If you are taking the donation classes via Zoom, you will receive a link in your email 30 minute prior to class time.  After class, we will email you a video recording so you can either take class again OR take it at a more convenient time for you.  The video recording will be available for 24 hours.  If you’re unable to make the class either in studio or virtually but you wish to donate to the Black Visions Collective, register for the virtual class and donate there through your registration fee or Venmo the studio @Wild Light Yoga Center.
 
We are open to feedback on how we can better serve our community and have a voice in the fight for social justice.  If you have anything to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out at info@wildlightyogacenter.com.  
 
Register for the donation classes here:
 
Monday, June 15th 6:15 – 7:45pm Vinyasa with Laura Black BLM Donation Class
Click here to register.
 
Friday, June 19th 9:30 – 10:30am Vinyasa with Laura Black BLM Donation Class
Click here to register.
 
With love and gratitude,
Jess and Joey
 

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