Yoga in London, without diversity and for the few: the battle for inclusion in a growing business

the yoga instructor Stacey Graham It was proposed as a mission to carry out this ancient practice more diverse and socially racialurging his students to become “change warriors” in this growing industry. full swing.

Yoga, originally from India, and Pilates, a form of exercise focused on postural alignment, are now a sector on the move $ 30 billion a yearaccording to the Global Wellness Institute.

But this success masks lack of diversitywhich affects the entire fitness-related physical activity industry, says Graham, who also works as a diversity policy advisor for companies.

“We are in London, but if you go to a space where there is a gym or a yoga studio, you probably won’t see “London”but typically white, female, able-bodied, middle-class bodies participate, “he said.

“How is it possible?” This was revealed by a survey conducted by the medical research site BMJ Open among yoga teachers and practitioners in the UK 87% were female and 91% were white.

Graham has just published the book “Yoga as Resistance” to help professionals in the field to expand your clientele

Graham holds regular seminars with other teachers, practices yoga, and plans how to diversify the industry.

One of the participants, Ntathu Allen, specializes in “breathing and healing” sessions. for women of color and says they sometimes ask her if she really is a teacher when she comes to a new studio.

The workshop was also attended by Pam Sagoo, owner of Flow Space Yoga in the multicultural district of Dalston in London.

“You just have to look out the window and see people (…) to know you have to attract a wider audience,” he says, citing the example of Black, elderly or LGBT.

It’s a similar situation in the United States, where “there aren’t many black women in these spaces, and.” that does not encourage others to enter “explains by phone Raquel Horsford Best, a Los Angeles-based professor.

Instructors and owners attribute this to access problemseconomic factors and the difficulty of keeping studies afloat.

One class: $ 24

And is that, to be profitable, studios often charge high prices. A single session in London costs around 20 pounds (23 euros or 24 dollars to change), which excludes many people who cannot afford it.

But Graham points to “more subtle” exclusionary factors, such as a performance-oriented atmosphere that discourages those who are less flexible, leaner or older.

As a result, many people who could “really benefit” from yoga, such as those with mental health problems linked to the pandemic or persistent covid are being lost, he complains.

The first step would be diversify teacher recruitment and personal. “They should hire more teachers of color, LGBT people, Asians …”, considers Raquel Horsford Best.

And of course, make the lessons more convenient. Pam Sagoo, for example, offers significant discounts in her space to low-income people and gives free lessons to some associations.

Veronique Dupont AFP

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