Right after the fatal election of 2016, Farah Nousheen founded Yoga for People of Color. She anticipated that the election of a white supramacist, misogynist, xenophobic, and predatory capitalist U.S. administration would ruthlessly and inhumanely target black people, indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQ+ people of color, immigrants, Muslims, and “others.” As an urgent response to the election, Yoga for People of Color supported and continues to support the collective and individual RESISTANCE and FIGHT against such oppression through improving and promoting overall wellness and healing practices specific to and for people of color because that is what our ancestors have done since 1492. Our thriving and holistic wellness emerges from this lineage of resilience and perseverance.
Farah had already been exploring the idea of a sangha for people of color in Albuquerque that focused on holistic health and well being from a social justice and spiritual justice perspective. She studied the movements and interventions made by yoga and meditation practitioners of color, such as Mushim Patricia Ikeda, Larry Yang, DaRa Williams, Janet Sheila Batacharya, and Susanna Barkataki, to name a few.
Our first Yoga for People of Color gathering was on Dec 3, 2016 with 14 people of all ages and with roots in the four directions. Soon after, a number of yoga teachers of color became interested in the project. Since then we have expanded to offer several types of gatherings including meditation gatherings, monthly critical reading circles, regular anxiety relief workshops, decolonize your diet gatherings, educational film screening field trips, and other gatherings focused on holistic heath and well being. We became a true sangha, a spiritual community with our mission and values focused on the overall wellness of and social justice for historically marginalized and devalued communities and peoples in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Founder and Yoga Instructor
Ever since a young age, I have always wanted to belong and learn within a spiritual community. I am thankful for the various communities that allowed me to explore and seek my truths. Through these experiences, I have been able to formulate my needs, values, and desires.. First and foremost, I realized that fo
Founder and Yoga Instructor
Ever since a young age, I have always wanted to belong and learn within a spiritual community. I am thankful for the various communities that allowed me to explore and seek my truths. Through these experiences, I have been able to formulate my needs, values, and desires.. First and foremost, I realized that for me to feel true belonging, the community must center social justice and that it be radically diverse. (read more here).
Critical Reading Circle Facilitator.
Hi everyone, my name is Raquel. I am a Critical Ethnic Studies scholar, an Intersectional feminist, and Mexican-American/Chicana in solidarity with Indigenous life and sovereignty of First Nations peoples everywhere. My pronouns are she and her. I use my background in Critical and Comparative Ethnic S
Critical Reading Circle Facilitator.
Hi everyone, my name is Raquel. I am a Critical Ethnic Studies scholar, an Intersectional feminist, and Mexican-American/Chicana in solidarity with Indigenous life and sovereignty of First Nations peoples everywhere. My pronouns are she and her. I use my background in Critical and Comparative Ethnic Studies, Critical Latinx/Indigeneities and Critical Indigenous Studies to research the work being done and interventions taking place in American Buddhism and modern yoga (read more here).
Yoga Instructor
I am Chinese (third generation Chinese American) and my pronouns are she and her. I collaborate each week with one or two other teachers regarding the sequencing and pace of the gathering. Sometimes we have a theme and other times we improvise, each guiding a portion of the class. My teaching career began in 2003 in Albuqu
Yoga Instructor
I am Chinese (third generation Chinese American) and my pronouns are she and her. I collaborate each week with one or two other teachers regarding the sequencing and pace of the gathering. Sometimes we have a theme and other times we improvise, each guiding a portion of the class. My teaching career began in 2003 in Albuquerque. Classes tended to be pretty homogenous within the studios, health clubs and offices where I taught (read more here).
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Zoom, every Thursday
My name is Nova and I serve as one of many organizers behind Meditation for People of Color. For the 2020 year, I will be leading the Thursday sits via Zoom. The radical imagination I am (re)discovering within self & community is ever-evolving, something like a pluriverse. It is inhe
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Zoom, every Thursday
My name is Nova and I serve as one of many organizers behind Meditation for People of Color. For the 2020 year, I will be leading the Thursday sits via Zoom. The radical imagination I am (re)discovering within self & community is ever-evolving, something like a pluriverse. It is inherently tied to a relational worldview: one that is queer, political, and knows no limits.
Nova Lira-Pérez is a life long student. Their roots are planted in the Mexican immigrant communities in Wyoming and San Simeón Xipetzinco, México (read more here).
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Tuesdays
Greetings! My name is Mayam and my pronouns are they/them. I identify as a black queer agender plant lover and earth worker. I work with land, plants and animals for a living and see myself as deeply connected to my practice as it informs my positionality and spirit. What brings joy to my heart
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Tuesdays
Greetings! My name is Mayam and my pronouns are they/them. I identify as a black queer agender plant lover and earth worker. I work with land, plants and animals for a living and see myself as deeply connected to my practice as it informs my positionality and spirit. What brings joy to my heart is tending to land and tending to community. Tending to community in movement and in stillness! As a new member to the Yoga for POC Sangha, I am excited to be facilitating Tuesday’s Silent Hour Sit from 5:30-6:30 (read more here).
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Zoom
Yoga POC Sangha feels like a beautiful home: a space that nurtures and supports my wholeness; a spiritual center where i can fine tune with community creative possibilities that enable our optimal, holistic well-being (Ancestor Maya Angelou helped us understand the mission is to THRIVE!). In a world
Organizer of the silent hour sit on Zoom
Yoga POC Sangha feels like a beautiful home: a space that nurtures and supports my wholeness; a spiritual center where i can fine tune with community creative possibilities that enable our optimal, holistic well-being (Ancestor Maya Angelou helped us understand the mission is to THRIVE!). In a world where set systems feed on hopelessness and despair, it is imperative for BIPOC to have tools, like yoga and meditation, that help us remember who we truly are and what is available to us (read more here).
Field Trip Organizer
I am Rebeccah and field trips are an opportunity to share safe and fun experiences together! I keep a lookout for relevant activities that we can attend and coordinate as a yoga for people of color sangha. I also plan and organize overnight camping trips and hiking meet ups, and any other outings related to Yoga POC Sa
Field Trip Organizer
I am Rebeccah and field trips are an opportunity to share safe and fun experiences together! I keep a lookout for relevant activities that we can attend and coordinate as a yoga for people of color sangha. I also plan and organize overnight camping trips and hiking meet ups, and any other outings related to Yoga POC Sangha’s mission and values about overall wellness, and spiritual and social justice (read more here)!
Yoga POC Sangha Prayer Facilitator
Hello everyone, my name is Marcus Trujillo (He/His) and I am from the Pueblo of Laguna. My mother is an Indigenous/Native American woman from the Pueblo of Laguna and my Father is a Hispanic man from Taos, New Mexico. My village affiliations are with Paraje and Seama village but I am currently living in A
Yoga POC Sangha Prayer Facilitator
Hello everyone, my name is Marcus Trujillo (He/His) and I am from the Pueblo of Laguna. My mother is an Indigenous/Native American woman from the Pueblo of Laguna and my Father is a Hispanic man from Taos, New Mexico. My village affiliations are with Paraje and Seama village but I am currently living in Albuquerque. I am an intern for Yoga POC Sangha for this 2020 spring semester, which will be starting on January 21st (read more here).