Yoga Trends for Black Americans
Anxiety, stress, depression, heart disease, and their related complications disproportionately affect Black Americans. Blacks also face marginalization and so many other challenges as a result of racism and social injustice. Recently, many Black Americans are turning to yoga to heal the trauma of these mental, physical, financial, and social disparities.Whereas yoga had once been a predominantly white activity in the U.S., a new trend of Afrocentric yoga is gaining popularity. This change is evident on social media, where the number of Black instructors is increasing and drawing a wider audience among Black men and women. Indeed, the percentage of Black yogis has increased by about 5% since 2012. One major benefit to yoga as a way to promote physical and mental health is that you can practice it individually and at your own pace, within your own space. This makes yoga more accessible.
Benefits of Yoga
Black men and women are drawn to yoga to improve many different kinds of health conditions. One study of 42 women revealed a wide range of motivations, from healing a back injury to smoking cessation. Regular yoga practice has been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Studies also show that many forms of anxiety, depression, and their related health issues are improved by yoga.Yoga has the potential to help many Black Americans by improving mental health and physical strength. It is also an immune booster that supports good posture, balance, and sleep.
ARE YOGA CLASSES AS POPULAR AMONG BLACK AMERICANS AS AMONG OTHER VISIBLE MINORITIES IN THE U.S.?
Yoga’s origins are in India, where its theory and practice developed for millennia as both a spiritual and physical exercise. Its ancient beginnings are still evident in the use of Sanskrit to name many of the different poses (asanas) like Adho Mukha Svanasana(downward dog pose). Increasingly, Black instructors have set out to establish yoga studios that are more accessible and welcoming to Black Americans not only by choosing locations that can serve their communities but also by portraying examples of Black men and women who take part in this challenging, healthy activity. As more Black yoga instructors lead classes and more studios offer child care and equipment rentals, more Black Americans will be able to benefit from yoga.
References
- https://innovation.umn.edu/scholar-spotlight/yoga-in-the-black-community/
- https://www.wellandgood.com/black-women-and-yoga-history/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728966/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/07/why-your-yoga-class-is-so-white/374002/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/more-black-men-embracing-yoga-ease-emotional-stress-n1100836
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229920318896
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/style/black-yoga-collectives.html
