LT in the City Weekly

Sep 30, 2020

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#WednesdayWisdom

"I am moving toward a time when I am totally happy + fulfilled. Life offers me everything I need for that journey." — Voni Walters

Morning Musings

If you happen to follow me on social media, you'll know I recently completed a five-day intensive for yoga teacher training (or YTT, as it's known on the 'Gram). You may also be wondering, like a few friends and family members, why YTT?

Well, for starters, I'm a sucker for sponsored Instagram posts. Near the beginning of the pandemic, I saw an ad for online 200-hour YTT hosted by Black Yoga Magazine. I sent it to my yogi friend Sierra and asked should we do this? Half joking, half serious. I brushed it aside, but the ad kept coming up. What can I say? The algorithm knows me well.

Throughout the summer, I interviewed Chelsea Jackson Roberts, my favorite yoga instructor, and the founders of BK Yoga Club. Each conversation left me feeling lighter and inspired. The world needs more Black yoga instructors, I'd think to myself, someone should do something about that. And then I'd go about my business.

My first yoga class in college was lackluster at best. But when Sierra sent me Erin Motz's 30-day Bad Yogi Challenge back in 2014, I decided to give yoga another try and I've been doing it pretty regularly ever since.

But I quickly grew dissatisfied with the diversity (or lack thereof) of yoga instructors. This was before my first yoga retreat, specifically designed for women of color. Before I learned about Black Girl in Om and, later, BK Yoga Club.

Then one day it dawned on me. I should do something about it. I should be the change I so wish to see in the world. To be clear, yoga teacher training was not on my 2020 bingo card.

It's something I'd thought about doing at some point to deepen my own understanding of this practice that has given so much to me. It was something I'd do "one day," but I certainly didn't expect that day to be "today."

Then I decided, why not? If this year has taught us anything, it's that tomorrow is not guaranteed and life is too short. Plus, we can always use more representation on the mat. Now the real work begins -- two book reports and 15 hours of teaching by Dec. 31. Here we go!

Love,
L'Oreal

ICYMI

Recently I interviewed Chicago therapist Dr. Adia Gooden for my latest blog post with Women Unite! about five ways to combat impostor syndrome (aka my favorite topic).

My first post for The Muse is also live! I interviewed Tiffany Wadell of Career Maven Consulting and Emily Kennedy of The Empower Podcast about WFH hacks to make your life easier. Check it out and hit "reply" to let me know which one you plan to use this week.

Virtual Happenings

Oct 1: Breaking Up With a Toxic Workplace. Not feeling emotionally safe in your workplace? Feeling unappreciated and devalued? Career coach Latesha Byrd is hosting a webinar to help you reclaim your power. (FREE)

Oct. 9: Fall Sex Talk. Marriage and Relationship Educator Yanni Brown joins Flower Girls Meet for a candid conversation about sex and intimacy. (FREE)

What I'm Reading

1. America Doesn't Care About Breonna Taylor (Complex)

2. The Relentlessness of Black Grief (The Atlantic)

3. A Frank Conversation About YA Literature, Police Brutality and the Nuances of Black Storytelling (EW)

Rest & Rest (Mini) Retreat

Tired, stressed and overwhelmed? Yea. Me, too. Which is why I called on a few friends to help me create a virtual (mini) retreat on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10-12:30 p.m. CT. ⁣Below is the lineup:

a meditation by Liz Colpa
restorative yoga session led by Alex Tatis of BK Yoga Club
a journaling exercise led by yours truly
a poetry reading by Pam Johnson Davis

Any and every body is welcome. Registration is FREE! But if you’re feeling generous, we’re accepting a suggested donation of $10, which will benefit Sista Afya, a Chicago-based low-cost mental wellness center servicing Black women. Register here.

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