Namaste Yoga Royal Oak

On June 2, the Madison Heights city council voted 3-4 in a “special meeting” to cancel a planned drag queen story event during their Art & Pride festival.

As residents of Madison Heights, we are disappointed, but unfortunately, not surprised. As owners of Namaste Yoga, we feel a deep commitment to our community. With examples of the targeting of people from all historically marginalized groups becoming a part of our daily news consumption, we find it impossible to not speak out lest it all becomes normalized. None of this is ok.

Anti-trans laws are being made across the country based on unfounded fears and belief that somehow, they are a threat to suburban America. Being targeted by elected officials for your very existence is exhausting and demoralizing, and it’s happening right here in our communities every day.

So, what does this have to do with yoga?

Yoga teaches us about ways to mindfully move in the world. Yoga does not demand calm and peace and perfect poses. It asks you to be honest (satya) in matters of injustice and to constantly reflect on our own imperfect thoughts and actions (svadyaya). It asks you to be kind to yourself (ahimsa) when you sit in the messy parts of life and asks that we keep going. In this case, practice reveals our flaws and helps us to amplify our collective strengths to be better humans.

We invite you to show up on your mat this Sunday with or me next Sunday for a donation-based class benefitting the Madison Heights Arts Board | Human Relations & Equity Commission. It’s unbelievably important we show our collective support to the committees who continue to fight for justice and visibility and validation. What is happening in Madison Heights is just one example across the state, and we must do what we can to not let this become the norm.

If you can’t make the event, donate! Spend your money locally and with small businesses. Share this post! Share someone else’s post!

We encourage you to show up off your mat however and whenever you can. We’re stronger together when we do.

Cassie & Ken
Stewards of Namaste Yoga

PS registration link in bio.

❤️💛💚💙💜

🧘🏽You could practice yoga your entire life and never know about the rich history of yoga that does not include a studio class. Even if you’re not aware of the philosophy, you’ve certainly experienced it.

💜 Ahimsa as translated means non-violence. In practice, it means don’t intentionally cause harm.

🗣️ Satya as translated means truthfulness. In practice, it means be honest and authentic.

🦋 When considered together, it can mean that honesty is kindness, both towards others and yourself. This is where it can get hard, and why we practice yoga in the first place.

😖 If you’ve ever been in a class and been frustrated because you can’t “do a pose”, that’s an opportunity to practice ahimsa. Be kind to yourself. Breathe and listen to your body instead of pushing against it to the point of harm..

🙅🏽‍♀️ Saying no to another task at work and being honest about why instead of making an excuse so that you can work towards a more authentic life instead of working towards burnout.

🕉️ We acknowledge the practice of yoga in the United States usually centers on postures, and not yoga philosophy or tenets of yoga. However, we strive to be respectful of the origins of yoga in the context in which we live. When speaking of yoga philosophy, we recognize the Yoga Sutra is a translation of the teachings of the yoga tradition as told by the sage Patanjali. It has been translated multiple times and with changes in society, the interpretations of this ancient wisdom shift as well. Therefore, the interpretations we use here have come from multiple sources that include traditional and modern applications and we have worked to represent the intent, independent of colonial interpretations, of each sutra to the best of our ability.

We are so privileged to be able to take part in the national strike on Friday and you have instructors who are also aligned with this. As the owner, Ken will still hold space at 8am for meditation.

However, not all businesses are able to take part so, if you must spend on Friday, do so with those small businesses that don’t have a choice. Spend cash with them so the full amount stays with them and not paid to a corporation. We’d love to help out our fellow small businesses, so let us know in the comments who we can support as a community.

❤️

Yoga doesn’t end when we roll up the mat. Right now, showing up for our community matters. And when things feel this heavy, we can’t pretend that’s where our responsibility ends.

This Friday at 7pm, we’re opening the studio as a watch party for a meeting with Oakland County CAFE. The space where the meeting is being held is small, the virtual room is limited, and more people want and need to be part of the conversation.

So we’re doing what yoga studios have always done:
creating space to gather, listen, learn, and figure out how to act. Yoga has always been about awareness and what we do once we see clearly. Sometimes that looks like rest. Sometimes it looks like showing up.

If you’re looking for a way to be involved without shouting into the void, join us. Sit with others. Listen. Learn what’s actually happening, and how to help.

We have bolsters and mats and a couple of benches to sit on, but feel free to bring a chair!

Even if you can’t come, please share if this comes across your feed!

🗓 Friday | 7:00 PM | doors open at 6:00
📍 Namaste Yoga | 3121 Rochester Road, Royal Oak
🧘‍♀️ Come as you are. No yoga required. ❤️