A community yoga gathering in honor of the late Nobel Prize Winner, Toni Morrison on her birthday.
Join us as we celebrate Black History month and the birthday of the late Nobel Prize winning author, Toni Morrison. A peaceful afternoon of yoga, community connections, and literature. This class is beginner friendly, gentle and meditative. We will focus on restorative asanas (postures) and pranayama (various breathing exercises). Props are provided. Please bring your own mat.
"Toni Morrison is one of the most celebrated authors in the world. In addition to writing plays, and children’s books, her novels have earned her countless prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. As the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Morrison’s work has inspired a generation of writers to follow in her footsteps." -Quote from article on Women's Natural History Museum Website. Learn More About Toni Morrison
“Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”
– Beloved, Toni Morrison
Why Toni Morrison and Yoga?
For so long, Black Women did not have ownership over their bodies. We have endured so much in the name of science, family, and freedom. Self-care is an act of radicalism. It is so deeply ingrained in us, that many of us have accepted the thought that taking care of one's self as a privilege only afforded to wealthy white women. We feel like if we take care of ourselves that we are taking away from the work that we do within our households and community. When in actuality, taking care of YOU is the most selfless thing that you can do. When we take care of ourselves, we become a better conduit for our community. Yoga is a tool that can be used to empower us to heal from the effect of chronic stress and trauma. It helps us to heal from the effects of depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. Not only is it healing, but it is also preventative.
Toni Morrison's books have been a voice for the voiceless. She empowers the reader through her eloquent expression the Black experience in America. She has been lauded many times over. Her work is both timeless and relatable. She shows our humanness, our softness, our strength, and our resiliency. She is truly a woman to be celebrated! I am so grateful for her books.