1 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford, 5 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or 6 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: to find a therapist in your area, visit our website 7 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you 8 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is 9 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with 10 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much 11 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: for joining me for the four hundredth episode of the 12 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our 13 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: very special conversation after a word from our sponsors. Ten 14 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: years and three hundred and ninety nine episodes have led 15 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: us to this very special moment in TVG history, our 16 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: four hundredth episode. Growing this podcast has been so transformative 17 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: for myself, my team, and the community we have built 18 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: along the way. With that in mind, today's episode is 19 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: centered around the resting work we must remember to integrate 20 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: as we grow. Doctor Chelsea Jackson Roberts is an internationally 21 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: celebrated Peloton yoga and meditation teacher and scholar, highly regarded 22 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: as a leader in a new generation of yogis who 23 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: are passionate about expanding the visibility of who is commonly 24 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: seen as a teacher. Unpacking her own history with meditation 25 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: and yoga as both a healing tool and wellness practice, 26 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: doctor Chelsea shares how her practice has deepened her understanding 27 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: of intentional movement, the need for grace with our bodies, 28 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: and the lessons it has offered her throughout her motherhood journey. 29 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: I'm really excited for you to hear this conversation. If 30 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: something resonates with you while enjoying the conversation, please share 31 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: with us on social media using the hashtag TVG in Session. 32 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: Here's our conversation. We're big fans here at Therapy for 33 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: Black Girls, So we have a virtual gathering every Thursday, 34 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: call three for Thursday, and we start with meditations and 35 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: we often use your five minute meditations from Peloton as 36 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: our grounding. So it is such an honor to chat 37 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: with you. 38 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: I love that same here. 39 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you. So maybe you can take us 40 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: back in history for a moment. Do you remember your 41 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: very first yoga class, and can you try tas a 42 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: line from that moment to the Chelsea we know you 43 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: as now? 44 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I remember, like yesterday. I remember it was a 45 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 2: hot yoga class. I remember feeling incredibly uncomfortable, looking around 46 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: the room and wondering if I was in the right place, 47 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: if I was in over my head. I remember there 48 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: were mirrors all around, and I remember that moment when 49 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 2: I looked at myself in the eyes and it was 50 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: just like that a high moment. It was fear, it 51 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: was excitement, curiosity, it was uncertainty, it was not being 52 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 2: really sure what I was experiencing. But I just remember 53 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: that it was hot, and I remember myself leaning into 54 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: the discomfort, but then also wondering what was on the 55 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 2: other side of it, and I fainted. I fainted in 56 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: that hot yoga class. And I also remember coming to 57 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 2: I remember cold towels around me, people seeing if I 58 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: was okay. But what I walked away with is knowing 59 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: that it was that moment that changed the trajectory at 60 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: the rest of my life. It was at a time 61 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: when I was a first year school teacher. I'm a 62 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: former elementary school teacher, and I just remember looking and 63 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: longing for a space, for me to feel free, for 64 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: me to feel like I was accomplishing a goal, and 65 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: for me understanding my body and especially in that time 66 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: put me where I am today, and that's who you 67 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 2: see me as now. There were certainly other things that 68 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: led to kind of this synergy that met me being 69 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: an educator, me being a researcher, me being someone who 70 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: was very introspective. I always wanted to be self reflective 71 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: and so to be able to cast as wide of 72 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 2: a net that will even reach for us to be 73 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 2: able to talk today. That is the path that led 74 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: me to where I am right now. 75 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: Wow, what a story. So I did not know that 76 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: origin story. So you know, I think hot yoga. I 77 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: feel like I hear about it sometimes and then not 78 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: so much much other times. What is the importance of 79 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: like the hot, like the temperature in the world. 80 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: I will not stress an importance or not. I think 81 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: that that's for the practitioner. That was just my entry point. 82 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 2: I thought that yoga had to be this workout. I 83 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: thought that it had to be something where if I 84 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: didn't sweat, then it was a waste of my time. 85 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: It was actually after that that I realized that the 86 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: hot wasn't necessary. It was really the practice. And I 87 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: think that once you can tap into what the practice 88 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: means for you, whether it's yoga or meditation, then that 89 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 2: hot is gonna come, whether it's in the form of 90 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: the lesson that you're learning on the met or it's 91 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: not necessary. It's not required. So I'm not necessarily an 92 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 2: advocate of you gotta have that hot yoga. That was 93 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: just my introduction to yoga. 94 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: Mm hmm, got it. So can you talk a little 95 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: bit more about the differences and maybe similarities between yoga 96 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: and meditation, because I think sometimes people use those kind 97 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: of synonymously when they are different. Can you talk about 98 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: the difference between both of them. 99 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 2: So historically, when you look back at the origin story, 100 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: we're talking about origin stories of yoga and meditation, it 101 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: was actually the meditation. It was the practice of being 102 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: one point of your focus. Right now, I think that 103 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 2: this time that we're in is a perfect example of 104 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 2: what's on the opposite end of being in a meditative state. 105 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,239 Speaker 2: So when you're overwhelmed, when you're consuming, when you feel 106 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: like you're being consumed by all the messages the information 107 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 2: that you're getting out in the world. I think that 108 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: people seek a meditation practice when they want to People 109 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: say quiet their mind, but I don't. I'm not an 110 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: advocate of saying that we need to quiet our mind. 111 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: I think that that would just like make me not 112 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: want to try meditation, because that is absolutely hard. But 113 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 2: I think that it's being clear on what your thoughts 114 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: are so that you can be grounded and then be 115 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 2: able to articulate that from a place of understanding. And 116 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: so meditation for me is a place that I go 117 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 2: when I want to understand. When I need to just 118 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: be reflective, I take a moment to pause, whether it's 119 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 2: for five minutes or a thirty minute practice. Now, yoga 120 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: was then introduced way later. When you're looking at the text, 121 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: when you're looking at the origin story with relationship to 122 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: India in particular, all of the texts about yoga came 123 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: after what people were what the teachers with the stages 124 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: were teaching about meditation and that learning of the wisdom. 125 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: So I think of meditation as this access point, whether 126 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: you're a child or whether you are one hundred years old, 127 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: it's a place that you can explore. Yoga is the 128 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: physical practice that can even prepare your body to be 129 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: able to sit for meditation and listen. I love yoga. 130 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: I call it a moving meditation because you're still really 131 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 2: one point of focus on your practice, whether it's your body, 132 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: your mind, or your breath. 133 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you bringing in and tying it to 134 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: this moment in particular, because I think you use the 135 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: perfect word of whelm. You are just feeling stretched thin 136 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: and like there's just so much coming at us. Can 137 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: you talk about what kinds of things are important or 138 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: would allow us to get more into a meditative state 139 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: when it feels like there is so much coming at 140 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: us that one I. 141 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 2: Think that you know before we even started this conversation, 142 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: it was important for us to find the space that 143 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 2: was quiet. Now you could do your best when it 144 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: comes to meditation. I always tell people it does not 145 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: have to be a perfect setting. If we wait for 146 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: that perfection, we may never ever meditate. And so for me, 147 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: it's important to find an environment that at least is 148 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: suitable for me to be able to focus on my breath. 149 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: And that is what I always tell my students. You 150 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 2: mentioned peloton. I love that we've practiced together through peloton, 151 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: and if you know me, you know that I'm always 152 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 2: either usually visualization as your anchor or the breath as 153 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: your anchor. And so people who want to try that 154 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: practice always say started a small amount of time. I 155 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: love that I can can offer step by step and 156 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 2: how to start a meditation practice, even in five minute 157 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: increments on the app. So I love that we practice together. 158 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 2: So meditation, it sounds like a tall order, but if 159 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,599 Speaker 2: you really pace yourself, you'll see how it's actually quite accessible. 160 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: So you started our conversation talking about how you were 161 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: looking for like a different relationship with your body and 162 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: like freedom with your body, and one of the ways 163 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: that drew you to yoga. How has your relationship with 164 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: your body and like the idea of balance changed, both 165 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: as a practitioner and also now as a new mom. 166 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's humbling. One of my favorite and most ancient texts, 167 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 2: it's called the Yoga Sutras by Pantanjui of Pantanguly, and 168 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: the first line is the yoga begins now, and it's 169 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 2: almost like I always I'm a child of the eighties, 170 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: and I always like to refer to mister Miyaiki and 171 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 2: the Karate Kid. And if anybody is familiar with that, 172 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: mister miyaiki. He is telling an Daniel's son to you know, 173 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: waxel on, wax off, and he's like doing this practice 174 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: of wiping the windshield over and over again, and he 175 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: doesn't understand why I'm doing this. And then finally it 176 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 2: was the big competition and he saw all this is 177 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 2: where we integrated. And for me twenty years almost or 178 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 2: really twenty plus years of practicing yoga, it's as I age. 179 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: It is as I step into this uncharted territory of 180 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 2: being a new parent, being a new mom, as I 181 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 2: step into uncharted territory of casting as wide of a 182 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 2: net as a people who can listen to me right 183 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 2: now speak about yoga and meditation. It has certainly gotten 184 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 2: me more clear on why I still practice yoga and meditation. 185 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 2: When we think about the life in which we live today, 186 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 2: especially as we grow older and we become more engaged 187 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: in society, a lot of people think sometimes yogis are 188 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 2: like quiet, and this is you know, we're just about peace, 189 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: and I am about peace. But it also gets me 190 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: clear on where I stand on issues in the world, 191 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: where I understand myself, how I play a role in 192 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: what I said. I want to just feel free on 193 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 2: the mat. How do I play a role in ensuring 194 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: that my child, children whoever come after me, will experience 195 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 2: freedom in that way? And for me, yoga is deeply 196 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: integrated to how I show up in the world, and 197 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: I'm all about, you know, using it as a liberatory 198 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 2: practice for people. 199 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: Can you say more about how that shows up in 200 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: your mothering. 201 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 2: Yeah. So one of the first things that I learned 202 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: in yoga was about non attachment, and that was scary 203 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: to me, like detachment, non attachment, Like I didn't understand 204 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: what that meant until I practiced yoga. And it's really 205 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 2: of going in with this intention as goal of wanting 206 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,199 Speaker 2: to be clear on what I wanted to get out 207 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: of my practice, but also being open that I may 208 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 2: not have control over the environment. Maybe something will try 209 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: to take me out of that moment, but I'm going 210 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 2: to come back to my practice to practice being present. 211 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 2: And for me, I can't control This is the most 212 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 2: humbling practice of knowing that I can't control my partner, 213 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 2: I can't control my child, I can't control anyone outside 214 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: of the way that I govern myself in this world, 215 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 2: And so being a parent isn't any different, if anything, 216 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 2: I see my yoga practice showing up for me in 217 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: those moments of I'm going to do my best. I'm 218 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 2: going to do all of the things that I've learned 219 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 2: up until this moment to do my best, and it 220 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 2: doesn't have to look perfect. And if it's not perfect, 221 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 2: that doesn't mean that I'm going to give up. It 222 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: means that I come back to practice the next day. 223 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 2: And so remembering it take that breath, remembering to be 224 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 2: present because the first thing that I heard when being 225 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 2: a parent to people who had children who were older 226 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 2: than my experience, and they would just always say, enjoy it, 227 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 2: be present. They grow up so fast, and so has 228 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: teaching me to be present with where a noble is 229 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 2: in life, in every breath, and so yeah, it has 230 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 2: certainly empowered me as a parent in ways that I 231 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: don't think that I would have tapped in had I 232 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 2: not had the practice. 233 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. That's such a beautiful reminder, that 234 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: is you do get that advice off and right like 235 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: being present because it goes so fast and it's important 236 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: to kind of connect it to the ways that we meditate, right. 237 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: I think that's a good reminder. Thank you for that. 238 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, we talked a 239 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 1: little bit about your work with Peloton, and so can 240 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: you tell me about like the pressure if you feel 241 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: any about like practicing so publicly something that's so intimate, right, 242 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: Like it feels like, well, we're practicing with you on 243 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: the app. It feels like we are just kind of 244 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: in the room with you. So it feels very intimate, 245 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: but you're on this large stage. Can you talk about 246 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: the pressures of that. 247 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: For sure, where I feel the most comfortable is when 248 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 2: we are practicing, when we are in it together, because that, 249 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 2: to me, is where that humility comes in. I speak 250 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 2: about humbleness a lot in this conversation we've just had, 251 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 2: but it keeps me there because I'm like, I'm still practicing. 252 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: I don't care how many years I have underneath my belt. 253 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 2: It's still a practice for me. So I feel the 254 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 2: connection whenever I'm able to deliver the practice. But if 255 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: I'm focused on yoga meditation, that's where I'm like, Okay, 256 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 2: I got this. It's in conversations like this where I'm 257 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: still learning. I'm so challenged. I'm still developing and evolving, 258 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: hopefully getting stronger, and I know that my practice. I 259 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: talk publicly about how I would often feel overwhelmed with 260 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: public speaking, in particular i am a PhD. I remember 261 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 2: feeling so like it was in my heart, in my bones, 262 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 2: you know, the work that I did with yoga, literature 263 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,119 Speaker 2: and art camp, which was the result of my dissertation. 264 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:01,359 Speaker 2: But I remember defending the dissertation and having to communicate 265 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: in that way. And so there is a pressure that 266 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: I've never ever felt before in life, because peloton has 267 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: certainly placed me in homes and gyms and communities that 268 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 2: may have never accessed maybe yoga before, or maybe not 269 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 2: have been educators and may not have found me that way. 270 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 2: And so now being in a more general population, it 271 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 2: strengthened me more than ever. It's reminded me that this 272 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 2: is not about me. I can still use my narrative, 273 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 2: my origin story as a way to share, you know, 274 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 2: how the practice has impacted me. But it also opens 275 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 2: my mind, whether it's the music that I use or 276 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: the stories that I open myself to tell so that 277 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 2: I can connect with whomever. And I think that that 278 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: is what truly is going to strengthen us, especially during 279 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 2: times that we may feel disconnected community wise and globally 280 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 2: that I think that the more that we step onto 281 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: the mat and interrogate ourselves those and the things that 282 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: keep us disconnected, we'll understand it and how it shows 283 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: up out in the world. And so that's those pressures 284 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: are often soothed by knowing that it's for this greater 285 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: understanding of connection. And so that's how I'm dealing with 286 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: the pressure. And it's not perfect, just like my practice, 287 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: but I keep showing up, and that for me is 288 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 2: what's important. 289 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: So let's talk about this music because this is one 290 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: of the things that I think is most exciting to 291 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: me about the way that you practice, because I think 292 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: you often do use You had a recent outcast meditation 293 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: like you often bring in very now music in a 294 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: way that I think is not what we typically think 295 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: of as yoga or meditation music. So can you talk 296 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: about those choices and maybe how that has broadened your audience. 297 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, I think about just music in general. I'm 298 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: a musician. I'm a trained pianist, whether I'm playing classical 299 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 2: music or if I'm trying to figure out jazz or 300 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: you know, I've always seen music in the genres of 301 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 2: music as a way that we can transcend languages. As 302 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 2: you know, different cultures can appreciate music, and that's a 303 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 2: universal language sometimes. And I think that when you're feeling overwhelmed, 304 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:18,479 Speaker 2: especially in practices like yoga that center your body or 305 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: can censor the body so much, whether it's like I 306 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 2: don't know if I'm flexible or enough, or I don't 307 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 2: know if I have the right yoga body, and all 308 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 2: of these things that tell us that we do not belong. 309 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 2: I think that when we open music as an invitation 310 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: or as a bridge, we remind people that they belong. 311 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: So when I first started teaching yoga, I remember, you know, 312 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: it wasn't the biggest moment of my career that was challenging, 313 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 2: but it stood out. It was when I was teaching 314 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 2: at a local studio and one of the regular practitioners 315 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 2: told me that the music that I was playing didn't 316 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 2: belong there, and it was like hip hop or R 317 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: and B, and so I started to, you know, reflect 318 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 2: on that and almost making it a mantra, like the 319 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 2: music doesn't belong here, I don't belong here. And you 320 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: have to be careful of the self talk and the 321 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 2: mantras that you create and etch into your heart and 322 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 2: into your mind, and it was important for me to 323 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 2: rewrite that. And so I'm like, so what if I 324 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: started putting actual like trap yoga in here. What if 325 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: I put you know, I did a metal yoga class 326 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 2: and talk about stretching myself to adhering to the guidelines 327 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 2: that I've put out there for people to try with yoga, 328 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 2: like try something new, move beyond your discomfort. And it's 329 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 2: just like, I think that once I move beyond musical genres, 330 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,360 Speaker 2: I'm opening myself and hopefully creating a bridge and safety 331 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 2: for people who didn't know that they belonged. And so 332 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 2: if they hear music that is familiar, then let that 333 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 2: be the thing that brings you to the map. So 334 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: that's kind of where the music diversity that I bring 335 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 2: to the map comes from. 336 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that you are joining us 337 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 1: Chelsea for our four hundredth episode of the Theory Uses 338 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: than you and you know so much about work has 339 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: been kind of centered in community, and to me feels 340 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: like it is a parallel for the career you've had. 341 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: You've talked about like this twenty plus years, a practice 342 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: that you've done in practicing in Alulu, Liming Ambassador and 343 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: your teaching career. So what has longevity really taught you 344 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: about authenticity? 345 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: What has longevity taught me about authenticity? I think that 346 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 2: the longer that you were here as a more aware 347 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: human being, the truer you were going to be to 348 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,199 Speaker 2: yourself and to the people around you. And so for me, 349 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 2: I want to be here. We're about to go to Ohio. 350 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: My grandmother is celebrating one hundred years and she is 351 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 2: so very present, so very we can be in conversation. 352 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: Sometimes I'm learning things that's in pop culture from her 353 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 2: before I heard about it, and so I learned from her. 354 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 2: And the one thing that I remember is many things 355 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: that I remember from her is that she continued to 356 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 2: keep her mind young by understanding and learning new things. 357 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 2: So she's constantly working with her hands or driving somewhere 358 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,239 Speaker 2: or learning a new thing. And so for me, I 359 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 2: think that longevity, the longer that we're here as present 360 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 2: human beings, yes, the truer that we're going to be 361 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 2: to ourselves and the people around us. And so I 362 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 2: celebrate you know, I celebrate you all and what you're 363 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 2: doing in the longevity and showing the value that understanding 364 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: that we matter and are worthy of therapy and spaces 365 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 2: that we understand who we are at a deeper level 366 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 2: in this moment. Yeah, LONGEV, that was a beautiful question. 367 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: Longevity offers definitely to that authenticity. 368 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: So you know, I'm a member of the Facebook groups 369 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 1: for Black Men's Peloton Group, and it often feels like 370 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: we are like championing you as you are championing us, right, 371 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: like in creating the spaces where all of us can 372 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: feel seen on the mat ment. I know you were 373 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: also a Spelman grad, So can you talk to me 374 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: about your time at Spelman and what you really learned 375 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: about sisterhood in your time there. 376 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 2: So I'm from Dayton, Ohio originally and going to Spelman College. 377 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 2: I went to a Black College tour and I remember 378 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 2: going to like fam you shout out to all the 379 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: HBCUs out there. There is little spread across and I 380 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 2: think about how excited I got when I went to 381 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 2: all of these different places. But there was something that 382 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 2: happened when I stepped onto the campus of Spelman College 383 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 2: that affirmed me in a way that I was searching 384 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 2: or longing for where I was from, where I was 385 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: from in terms of the age that I was coming from, 386 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 2: at that time, the region in which I was coming from, 387 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,439 Speaker 2: and I remember that I wanted more. I wanted to 388 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 2: understand and learn more whether I was going to go 389 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: and go back to my hometown and Spelman for me 390 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 2: was it was an affirmation, It was a reminder, it 391 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 2: was an opening. Lens said, I don't think that I 392 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 2: had ever applied towards myself because I saw the reflection 393 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 2: of myself through my sisters and siblings who were around me, 394 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 2: who I may never have had access to. And so 395 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 2: I think that all of us when I ask another 396 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 2: spellman graduate what drew you to spellmen? Oftentimes our answers 397 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 2: are definitely diverse, but there's always this common thread that 398 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 2: we needed this, this affirming space, that it normalized our leadership, 399 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 2: our presence, and our voice in the world. And I 400 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 2: know that it has sharpened my tool. That was definitely 401 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 2: a springboard for where I am today. 402 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: I love that that's such a hood theme definitely comes 403 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: out a lot when you talk to you spell and 404 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 1: women right like that. That's a clear sense that this 405 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: is the space created for and by you. 406 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 2: Exactly, and that is what you know offered. That was 407 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 2: the birthplace of yoga literature in our camp for teen girls. 408 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: And you know, it was like this intergenerational experience of saying, 409 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 2: this is where I learned this, and I wish that 410 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 2: I had this. As my colleague Octavia Rahem would say, 411 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: she would say, I wish this is a place that 412 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: I wish I would have had when I was this age. 413 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,880 Speaker 2: And so for us to have been able to provide 414 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 2: a space for us to even at the age of thirteen, 415 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 2: to begin to understand practice. So it's like yoga, meditation 416 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 2: and therapy and art and literature and all of these 417 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 2: spaces that are valuable for us. It was important for 418 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 2: me to give back as well. 419 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: So can you talk more about the yoga literature and 420 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: or you talked about it being an extension of your 421 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: dissertation project. Can you see more about what the camp was. 422 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 2: My dissertation was at Emery and it was in language, 423 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 2: Literacy and culture, and I wanted to look at how 424 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: yoga because it has such an impact in my life. 425 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 2: I wanted to know how could it be used as 426 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 2: a tool for us to understand, to interrogate the world, 427 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: to speak up as a voice in this world. How 428 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 2: is yoga and meditation fueling that It specifically to work 429 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 2: with young people who identified as women of color, specifically 430 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 2: black women. But we had a diverse range of teachers, 431 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 2: whether they were from Iran or Korea or Caribbean. We 432 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 2: had a very diverse group. But because we were at 433 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 2: a historically black college, it was important for us to 434 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 2: also remind ourselves because we were positioned here, we are 435 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 2: positioned here in the United States, and I think that 436 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 2: that context is always important as black women. And so 437 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 2: Yoga Literature and Art Camp is underneath the umbrella of 438 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: Red Clay Yoga and that's our nonprofit that my husband 439 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 2: Shane and I found it, and so for me it 440 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: has been this landmark. It is a space where community gathers, 441 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,959 Speaker 2: whether you're a community activist, an educator, and artist, and 442 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 2: we work together so that we can create these spaces 443 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 2: for young people in particular to feel safe and seen. 444 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:00,239 Speaker 2: And yoga meditation was certainly that platform for me, and 445 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 2: I was just like, well, what would happen if we 446 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 2: extended that even at a younger age. 447 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: What do you think of some of the benefits of 448 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: young people getting engaged with yoga? 449 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 2: Well, I know for sure through my research. So I'm 450 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 2: an ethnographer and I studied specifically the culture and the 451 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 2: way in which people communicate in language, and the girls 452 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: who participated, they saw how it impacted their direction that 453 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: they went after they graduated from high school. We have 454 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 2: one young woman who applied for a master's program in yoga, 455 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 2: in particular in MFA, and then we have another young 456 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: woman who started her own company, and then others who 457 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 2: were activists in their graduate schools after they went to Spelman. 458 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 2: We had a handful of girls who actually applied and 459 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: went to Spelman afterwards, and so it was interesting to 460 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 2: see what we already saw was this light in them. 461 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 2: Because in order to go to wild A Camp, it 462 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: was free, but you had to want to be there. 463 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 2: It wasn't like this place that you sent your children 464 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 2: because you just needed something to do with them. And 465 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 2: I understand how people need to negotiate their time, but 466 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 2: this was a space that we wanted the teens to 467 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: want to be there. So they applied, they went through 468 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 2: an interview process, and so knowing that they had something 469 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 2: in them that wanted to be more reflective, we knew 470 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 2: that that was just the fuel that we needed and 471 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 2: support to see where they went out into the world. 472 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 2: And so many of them are showing up in leadership 473 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 2: positions like I mentioned activism graduate school trajectories, and so 474 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 2: we're really proud of our Wildlife graduates. 475 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: I love those stories and it does feel like, you know, 476 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: then they changed the little circles that they are a 477 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: part of, right with the YLA camping that expressed to 478 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:46,160 Speaker 1: wherever they. 479 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 2: Find themselves there exactly. 480 00:26:48,119 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, more from our conversation after the break. As 481 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,959 Speaker 1: I hear you talk about yoga, Chelsea, it often feels 482 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,399 Speaker 1: like a way of community care. Can you talk about 483 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 1: like the connection between yoga and community care and yoga 484 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: as a form of community care. 485 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that because yoga is something that is 486 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 2: expected to be a routine, a practice, a ritual, if 487 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 2: you will, just like anything that brings meaning or builds 488 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: meaning for you, whether as an individual or a collective. 489 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 2: I think that when we pour into something and we 490 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 2: practice doing it over and over again, that it does 491 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 2: leave those ripples that move out into the wider community. 492 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 2: And so I think that community care looks like these opportunities. 493 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 2: And I always love to quote James Baldwin and that 494 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 2: I always talk about the both, and for me, the 495 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 2: both and is both the suffering and the joy. And 496 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 2: James Baldwin often talks about understanding our own suffering as 497 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 2: individuals so that we can understand the suffering of others 498 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: because it's there, that's just the experience. But what we 499 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,439 Speaker 2: can do is use that understanding of the suffering to 500 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 2: go deeper into love. And for me, love is the 501 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 2: portal to joy. And so we can feel overwhelmed by 502 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 2: the reality of the shifts and changes of the world, 503 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 2: we can, but how dare we not also understand and 504 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,439 Speaker 2: see the love and the joy that exists too. I 505 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 2: think about my grandmother who's turning one hundred, and I 506 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 2: think about the stories that she still tells, and it's 507 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 2: always sprinkled with so much joy. And so my hope 508 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 2: is that our community care looks like creating those safe spaces, 509 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: those affirming spaces, those spaces where we can practice liberation 510 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 2: as a way to not only care for ourselves, but 511 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: to care for each other. So that, for me, is 512 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: what a yoga and meditation community does. 513 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: So, Chelsea, I remember the excitement of you announcing your pregnancy. 514 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: I remember it on Instagram, But I also know that 515 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: so many athletes are there's hesitation around like pregnancy and motherhood, 516 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: especially when their positions are connected to physicality, right, so 517 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: getting pregnant, Like, is this going to disrupt my career 518 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: in some way? How have you been able to navigate that? 519 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 2: I know you do like people do like personality quizes 520 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: to understand like what type of person? Big picture detail, 521 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 2: like all of those things, And I think that I 522 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: am definitely detailed. But I think what gives me hope 523 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 2: is big picture And when I think about the fullness 524 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 2: of my life, when I think about the fullness of 525 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 2: my grandmother's life and what you know she'll think about 526 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 2: on that, you know, towards the end as I'm sure 527 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 2: people consider each and every day. But I know that 528 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to think about the impact that I made 529 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 2: with my career. But I also want to remember those 530 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 2: moments of love that I share with my family and friends. 531 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 2: So whatever that looks like whether I would have become 532 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 2: a parent or not, I want to look at the 533 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 2: ways that I choose to spend my time with the 534 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 2: people I love and care about. And so for me, 535 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 2: I am not going to allow anything like whether it's 536 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 2: professional career wise, impact the bigger, fuller picture of love 537 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 2: that I know that I am worthy of and so 538 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 2: for me and my journey, being a mother, a parent 539 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 2: was certainly a part of that. Being married to my 540 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 2: best friend was a part of that. And so I'm 541 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 2: grateful that it's working out. And of course it comes 542 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 2: with sacrifice, it comes with the balance between effort and ease, 543 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 2: it comes with all of the things. But I do 544 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 2: believe that that we are worthy if we want to 545 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 2: see our lives play out in a certain way, that 546 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 2: it's possible. I waited later to have children and I 547 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 2: still have exactly what I knew that I wanted, and 548 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 2: it's scary to say that out loud sometimes, and I 549 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 2: think that yoga and meditation strengthened my courage to say 550 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 2: the things that I wanted, and being a parent has 551 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 2: been a part of that. 552 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. Can you say more about how 553 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: yoga meditation helps it priests courage? 554 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, if anyone's ever tried or attempted yoga positions 555 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 2: or even allowing their mind to tell them that they 556 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: didn't belong somewhere and they still did it anyway, then 557 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: that to me is showing you how you can show 558 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 2: up out in the world. I always say that you 559 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 2: use your yoga practice as a way to strengthen how 560 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 2: you show up in the world. And so if I'm 561 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 2: telling myself, oh, I don't belong here, I don't have 562 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 2: a yoga body, I don't have what it takes to 563 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 2: be a so I'm not gonna go I'm probably showing 564 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 2: up in different aspects of my life like that. So 565 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 2: the number one thing is I tell students to be 566 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 2: kind to yourself, like to even lighten the load or 567 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 2: the expectation so that you do have an entry point 568 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: where you can set sustainable, achievable intentions and goals so 569 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 2: that you don't overwhelm yourself and then just say, oh, 570 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 2: it's not perfect, I'm never doing this again. And so yeah, 571 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 2: that that's my approach. That is my approach. 572 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:02,959 Speaker 1: And I'm sure you're already doing this, But how are 573 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: you planning to introduce your little one to yoga and 574 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: meditation as he grows over there? 575 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 2: Well, he's already there. And I think that that's so 576 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,680 Speaker 2: beautiful that it even surprises you how much they are 577 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 2: paying attention. And I think that that's a testament to 578 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 2: just being present with the people you love, especially the 579 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 2: little ones. Because Noble was doing movements that I had 580 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,200 Speaker 2: no idea he was paying attention to. But because whenever 581 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 2: I have a live class, Shane is always very It's 582 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 2: that routine of noble is there front and center for 583 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 2: a morning meditation or a morning yoga class. I will 584 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 2: end the day even with me being right there, with 585 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 2: Shane being right there with the sleep meditation. So he's 586 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 2: hearing these things daily and it's a part of his 587 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 2: routine and so he's already introduced. Whether it was by 588 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: design or on purpose or not, he's around it. That's 589 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 2: why y'all be careful what you say around the little 590 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 2: ones and do, because they are watching. 591 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Yes, So you talked a little bit about this, Chelsea, 592 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: But what's something that you've learned about yourself from motherhood 593 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: that you didn't expect. 594 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 2: I didn't realize that I am as strong as I am, 595 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 2: Like I didn't. It's when you sit back from those 596 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 2: moments that may feel like chaos, and if you can 597 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 2: get through like some of those moments, it's just like 598 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 2: anything else is just like I can I can make 599 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 2: it through this. I can get through this. And again, 600 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 2: this is where yoga and meditation comes in. It's just like, 601 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 2: what good is it going to do for me to 602 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 2: now physically arrive to the state that my mind is 603 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 2: trying to take me. And it's just like this ripple effect. 604 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 2: And so yoga for me teaches me how to practice okay, 605 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 2: when chaos happens, when the unexpected happens, what are you 606 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 2: going to do? Oh wow, remember this tool, this breath 607 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 2: you remembered on the mat. You can do it here 608 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 2: right now. And so it reminds me of that connection, 609 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 2: and that in turn reminds me how strong I am 610 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 2: in those moments, and then also how vulnerable I am. 611 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 2: I don't think that we talk about that enough, about 612 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 2: the soft parts of us. It's always like, I didn't 613 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 2: realize how strong I am, resilient I am. I didn't 614 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 2: realize how vulnerable I am, how soft I am, how 615 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 2: tender this moment is. And so it's definitely making my 616 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 2: senses even more aware and I love that. 617 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: So on the Everyday Better podcast, you talked about losing 618 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:26,319 Speaker 1: your best friend to gun violence at the age of 619 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: twenty four and how yoga was really instrumental in helping 620 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:32,320 Speaker 1: you to heal through that greed. Can you talk about 621 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: how yoga isn't anchoring for people and can be used 622 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,960 Speaker 1: for emotional healing beyond just movement. 623 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and for every case, what's case by case, And 624 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:46,439 Speaker 2: I wish I would have found therapy earlier. I think 625 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 2: that yoga and meditation was a gateway and an opening 626 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 2: for me to even open myself to sit down with 627 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:56,239 Speaker 2: a professional therapist. And so I'm with a somatic therapist, 628 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,320 Speaker 2: which is important for me because I am so connected 629 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 2: to my body and its responses. And so during that time, 630 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,760 Speaker 2: especially early twenties, I think that they say your frontal 631 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,280 Speaker 2: lobe is just ending in development in like twenty five, 632 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 2: and so I had seen these experiences in the news. 633 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 2: I'm from Dayton, Ohio, I was living in Atlanta, I'm 634 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 2: a black woman, I have black family men like all 635 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 2: of these things, Like, I had always seen gun violence, 636 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 2: but it was always very close to home. But when 637 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 2: it hit home, I think that I definitely had this 638 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 2: trauma response of freezing. I froze, everything stood still. I 639 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 2: didn't know what, didn't know what to do in that moment. 640 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 2: And so I had already had this yoga practice that 641 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 2: was doing this physical thing for me, but I had 642 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 2: never connected it to well, what if I used it 643 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,880 Speaker 2: as a way to heal from this experience. I didn't 644 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:49,760 Speaker 2: know that that was what I was doing. I didn't 645 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 2: know that that was the language. I didn't even realize 646 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,760 Speaker 2: until later after doing therapy that I was tapping into 647 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:59,360 Speaker 2: that part of me that was responding to that traumatic event. 648 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 2: So Missy Carter Misty Denise Carter from Fayetteville, North Carolina, 649 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 2: Spelman Class of two thousand and one was definitely a 650 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:14,839 Speaker 2: catalyst for me seeing that how yoga and meditation went 651 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,800 Speaker 2: beyond this physical practice that was just like this workout 652 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:21,960 Speaker 2: for me to being transformative and again impacted the trajectory 653 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 2: of my life. Yeah. 654 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, And when you were looking for a therapist, did 655 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 1: you know to look for like semantic therapy or did 656 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:31,320 Speaker 1: you try something else before? And then it led you 657 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: dismissed I. 658 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:34,760 Speaker 2: Had tried something. I had tried good old fashioned therapy. 659 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:37,360 Speaker 2: It was just like, I need a therapist. It's a therapist. 660 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 2: And it was when I started getting deeper into yoga 661 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 2: and I understood what somatic practices were, and then I 662 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 2: knew to look for a specific type of therapists And 663 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:51,600 Speaker 2: it was the best decision I could have made, Like 664 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 2: it was just a holistic approach for someone like me. 665 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,720 Speaker 2: Who was so dedicated to the embodiment of yoga. 666 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: Yeah right, right, I'm sure that that was very important. 667 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:07,000 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, So what would you say two black women 668 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 1: who maybe want to start a mindfulness or yoga practice 669 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: with f you like, they don't have the time. 670 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 2: You are worthy of that time. And I don't know 671 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 2: what else we are making time for if we can't 672 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 2: carve out that time and space for ourselves. I think 673 00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:23,880 Speaker 2: that this is a well known reminder to put to 674 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 2: apply the oxygen mask first before applying the other. My 675 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:29,760 Speaker 2: mother in love always says that who is a survivor 676 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,600 Speaker 2: of breast cancer and uses her spunk her influence to 677 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 2: tell other women in particular to get yourself examined, to 678 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 2: get yourself checked out, to make that time and space. 679 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:43,800 Speaker 2: And that is my same way that I go about 680 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:47,240 Speaker 2: yoga and meditation, or if it's not yoga and meditation, 681 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 2: find rest practices. I think that yoga and meditation are 682 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 2: great access points because there is way more information but 683 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,880 Speaker 2: just resting. I think that black women in particular need 684 00:37:59,880 --> 00:38:03,360 Speaker 2: to be reminded of that. And also it's not lost 685 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 2: on me that our lives aren't necessarily set up for 686 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 2: that luxury. But I need us to all take a 687 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,399 Speaker 2: moment and pause. It's just like, well, what else can 688 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:15,840 Speaker 2: we do if we don't do that, And so finding 689 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 2: that space to rest, to pause, to listen. 690 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: Are there any particular yoga poses or affirmations or meditations 691 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:25,880 Speaker 1: that you would offer for people who want to start 692 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,200 Speaker 1: small and maybe kind of get this practice going. 693 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 2: I always tell people, like, if you go to a 694 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,960 Speaker 2: yoga class, or if you're practicing with me and you 695 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 2: think that you can't finish it out, find a posture 696 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,040 Speaker 2: at least one that resonates with you, whether you are 697 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,880 Speaker 2: lying down on your side in a feudal position, just 698 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,400 Speaker 2: try to stay with it because that is a part 699 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,440 Speaker 2: of the routine, that is a part of the practice 700 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 2: of sticking with it and singing it through. And so 701 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,239 Speaker 2: I just tell people to start out small, whether it's 702 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:58,960 Speaker 2: five minutes or a thirty minute practice, and to choose 703 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 2: that posture that feels best for you and you can 704 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,120 Speaker 2: hold it, give yourself permission. Nobody is going to give 705 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 2: you a demerit. No one is going to write you up, 706 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 2: you know, for not doing it the right way. And 707 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:13,800 Speaker 2: I think that yoga and meditation allows us to unlearn 708 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:16,319 Speaker 2: the things that we've learned about ourselves and that we 709 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,840 Speaker 2: have to place onto ourselves, especially as black women, to 710 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 2: allow this to not be that place where that exists. 711 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you for that. It has been so wonderful 712 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: to spend some time with you today, Chelsea. Thank you 713 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,040 Speaker 1: so much for joining us questions. 714 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:36,320 Speaker 2: This is a beautiful conversation and congratulations on four hundred. 715 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 2: Thank you. 716 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 1: I really appreciate that. So where can we stay connected 717 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 1: with you? What is your website as well as any 718 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:44,280 Speaker 1: social media challenge you like to share. 719 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:49,280 Speaker 2: I am Chelsea love yoga across all social media, and 720 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:51,880 Speaker 2: I am Chelsea Jackson Roberts. And you can find me 721 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:56,680 Speaker 2: at Peloton. And you do not need the equipment. This 722 00:39:56,719 --> 00:39:59,320 Speaker 2: is a common misconception. You do not need a bike, 723 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,279 Speaker 2: a tread or anything to connect with me. All you 724 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 2: need is your smartphone and app anything that can hold 725 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:09,880 Speaker 2: that Peloton. I can either take you to sleep with 726 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:12,520 Speaker 2: a sleep meditation, wake you up in the morning with 727 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,879 Speaker 2: a flow. Whatever you need, I'm here and you can 728 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 2: do it, and you are worthy of the time and space. 729 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:20,759 Speaker 1: Absolutely, thank you, Chelsea. 730 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:21,319 Speaker 2: Thank you. 731 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:28,360 Speaker 1: I'm so glad Chelsea was able to join me for 732 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:31,840 Speaker 1: this conversation today. To learn more about her and her work, 733 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:34,920 Speaker 1: visit the show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com 734 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:37,759 Speaker 1: slash Session four hundred and don't forget to text this 735 00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: episode to two of your girls right now. If you're 736 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,720 Speaker 1: looking for a therapist in your area, visit our therapist 737 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,799 Speaker 1: directory at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And 738 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:49,759 Speaker 1: if you want to leave us a voicemail with a 739 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,839 Speaker 1: question or a topic you want to suggest for the podcast, 740 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: please leave us a voice note at memo dot fm 741 00:40:56,480 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 1: slash Therapy for Black Girls and let us know what's 742 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:01,840 Speaker 1: on your mind. We just might answer it or address 743 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,480 Speaker 1: it on the podcast. This episode was produced by Alice 744 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 1: Ellis and Tyree Rush. Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. 745 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much for joining me again this week. 746 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 1: I look forward to continuing this conversation with you all 747 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:16,480 Speaker 1: real soon. Take good care,