#YogaSoWhite 🙏
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#WednesdayWisdom
"self-care is naming what you need without guilt or shame. give yourself permission to speak up. stand in your superpower and choose yourself." — alex elle
Morning Musings
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who reached out to me after the street harassment incident I described in last week's newsletter.
It's one of those situations where it's good to know you're not alone, but one I wish wasn't so universally shared. I'd love to say it ended there, but as any woman walking around in a major city (or any place, really) knows, that was not the case. Perhaps one of these days we'll be able to walk about in peace.
In an attempt to comfort myself last week, I looked up yoga videos intended to comfort you. I found one by my favorite YouTube yogi and admittedly felt better after practicing one of her videos.
But when I went to her website to see what was new, I was a bit disappointed. I was greeted with a large image of smiling white women, and a couple of dudes, but mostly white presenting (save for the racially ambiguous girl located in the background).
Ever since I returned from the for women of color last moth, I've been seeking yoga classes taught by, well, women of color. And so far I've come up empty.
Sure, there's a Black woman who teaches in Hyde Park, but it's rather far to get to on public transportation from my home in Rogers Park.
Feeling optimistic, I visited a yoga studio in my new neighborhood for the first time. And, as suspected, I was the only Black woman in a sea of Lululemon. The only one whose thighs touched and tummy hung a bit over her leggings. The only one whose twists grazed the floor in downward dog.
Immediately I started to feel self-conscious about my appearance and wondered whether I'd get the poses "right" or if the instructor would come around to "correct" me.
In a space that's supposed to calm me down, I felt my anxiety rising up. Why is yoga like this? Where were the Black and brown women I was surrounded by just a few weeks ago? Where can I find that serenity again?
Love,
L'Oreal
IRL
Winding down the year with one last conference...
Oct. 21: #SpeakTruth Summit
Links I Love
My Latest Obsession
This past Sunday, Jeff and I spent the day at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana. Now, for those of you who don't know, I'm a fall baby through and through. My birthday is October 29 (#ScorpioSeason represent) and my favorite holiday is Halloween.
So I can't resist apple picking and pumpkin picking. But let me tell you about the apple pie! I've had some good pie in my lifetime, but this pie right here? To drive for! Seriously, we drove an hour from Chicago to get this pie. I don't know how they make this crust, but it's basically flaky deliciousness perfection. And the apples? Well, it's an orchard, so of course they're good!
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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!