A Letter from Erin
Last week I said this isn’t business as usual. And I meant it.
We muted our channel to amplify Black voices — and to help create space for the listening and understanding required for meaningful action and, ultimately, change. Now, I’m here personally and as the leader of Athletes for Yoga to do what I can to be of service in the form of ongoing action.
What does that actually mean? We don’t have all the answers. And full disclosure, as a small business we have limited resources, but we can’t let that stop us from doing what we can where we are. Here’s where we are starting:
I’m speaking with Black athletes on our team to better understand what meaningful support looks like for them, and also to gain perspective on barriers to yoga and wellbeing in black communities. Their voices and leadership are informing a new roadmap forward for our pro team and for the brand.
We are listening closely to Black athletes and voices in the space of yoga, meditation, and wellness and asking: How can we amplify and support their efforts?
We will donate 10% of A4Y June sales to Yoga Foster. Founded by Nicole Cardoza, this important non-profit provides yoga and mindfulness support to students, educators, and their families, to “give every student the opportunity to learn well with simple, mindful tools.”
We are seeking opportunities to offer ongoing support to Yoga Foster and related organizations. If you know anyone in this space that could benefit from A4Y support, please share in comments or DM.
Ultimately, I keep coming back to access. I approach yoga as problem solving — and creating accessible entry points for everyone to access its solutions is critical. This is, of course, so much bigger than yoga. But this is a specific area where my brand and I can, I hope, be players in helping to progress real change.
I founded Athletes for Yoga 10 years ago with a mission of making yoga accessible to athletes. That meant everything from the poses to prices. Yoga should be practical, accessible, and welcoming to everyone. It’s not just for white people. Racial barriers to wellness are unacceptable. And yet the space can seem painfully lacking in diversity and that does not align with the values of Athletes for Yoga.
I’m committed to awakening — being aware and in action — myself and my business.
More soon. Communication is always open.
