Public Statement from the Board of Directors issued on the anniversary of George Floyd’s Death ~ May 3, 2021

Anusara is a global community that heavily relies on Tantric teachings: We are all connected. Our love extends throughout the world. When there is pain, inequality and racism anywhere, it is our obligation to work towards healing, equality, growth, and enlightenment.

Through our Tantric vision, we learn to stay grounded in our practices amidst grief, anger, pain. As students of yoga, we learn how to move through these challenging times with a commitment of anchoring to those practices.

Earlier last week, the United States of America took a step forward in affirming the value of life for all human beings. Derek Chauvin, the police officer who cruelly took the life of George Floyd, was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. All around the world, we breathed a collective sigh of relief for witnessing accountability. We are full of gratitude for Darnella Frazier, the 17-year old girl who was passing by, who had the mindfulness and courage to record the event on her cell phone. Without her action, the world may not have witnessed this very painful injustice. We are thankful for the activists around the world who have stood up and demanded justice and positive change and growth.

At the same time, while we share our gratitude, we know that there is still so much more work to be done.The BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) communities in the United States and around the world still experience a reality of deeply entrenched racism and disparity. Our hearts and our support are given to people who still experience this.

We have stayed open to life–grounding ourselves in the hope for a better tomorrow. Grounding ourselves in the crack that this moment is creating, giving place for the light to shine for all of us. We use everything we have learned through Anusara yoga to commit ourselves to be the tools to help the light to crack open and to expand–helping us to live fully in this moment of change.

We can clearly see the need to stick to our commitment and keep working with our Diversity, Inclusion and Growth Committee. We need to keep fighting against any form of racism or inequality. We need to create and expand the vision we hold–unity within diversity. We need to expand our horizons and find ways to promote accessibility in yoga. We need to create space for these important conversations, for educating ourselves in the reality that marginalized communities experience daily.

All of us–as individuals and as a global kula–are called upon to commit ourselves to actions that work towards that. This includes individual teachers renewing their commitment to teaching and welcoming all students regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, nationality, cultural background, or sexual preference, and a deeper commitment by the Anusara School of Hatha Yoga to create opportunities for learning, growth, and support of all of our community.

Let’s continue to educate ourselves.

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