What can I do to make change happen?

As someone who is white and who works in the Wellness industry, where there is clearly disparity in ethnic representation, I feel it would be remiss of me, not to say something about the Black Lives Matter movement. 

I’ve sat and processed activities and voices over the past couple of weeks and hearing so many voices has inspired me to use my voice and my platform to share my thoughts and what I plan to do next. 

I grew up in East London (Leyton in fact), a very multicultural area. I lived on a road that was diverse, I went to school where again diversity was reflected. I have always had black or people of colour as friends, something I’ll be honest, I’ve never really thought much about, because it was so normal.

I’ve never thought of myself as being racist. I wasn’t brought up to think of colour, just of people as people. The only thing I do remember my mum encouraging me not to do, was to limit myself to just one friend (which at one point I did), because I always remember her saying that if I fell out with that friend I would be stuck on my own. 

So, since the BLM movement began a couple of weeks ago (and I’m fully aware this has been bubbling away for many years) it has really made me think - am I racist? Have I been racist in the past without even knowing? I don’t think I’m fully equipped to answer the question myself (just yet).

I am aware that I have worked for companies over the years (outside of the Wellness industry) that were predominantly white, where diversity was just a ‘tick box’ exercise. I’ve worked for companies led by men at the top and not just men, but white middle aged men (a stereotype, but true of so many brands). I'm aware of gender disparity and in fact I’ve experienced this myself, first hand. 

My philosophy as a yoga teacher has always been that yoga is for everyone and I’ve always wanted my classes to reflect this. I’ve incorporated this in the way I teach and how I price my classes. My clients are racially diverse, but this movement has heightened my awareness of the fact that although diversity is there, my classes and my community are still predominantly white. 

So, I would like to know why this is? Why are black or people of colour not attracted to yoga? Is it something the industry itself has manifested over the years? Is it something that we as teachers do (unknowingly)? And, if that is the case, then what can I as a yoga teacher do to make this change? 

I would love to hear from you and I promise the feedback I receive from you, will be put into action. 

In the meantime, I will be taking action by consciously thinking about who I work with going forwards and making sure that we put the right foundations in place at home for our daughter (who is one, and half British and half Iranian), as she grows up.