What's the BIPOC Wellness Collective?

The BIPOC Wellness Collective provides an inclusive space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) to practice yoga, meditation, and be in a space of community, led by some of Fort Wayne’s BIPOC instructors.

Classes will rotate between different instructors who will ensure students at all levels are able to follow along and create a container that may leave them feeling stronger, empowered, or rested depending on the class design.

The sessions take place at Paw Paw House, 716 Jackson Street - a venue in West Central that is used for inclusive events for the community. There is only street parking available, please don't be discouraged if you can't find parking near the venue - you will surely find parking a block or two down the street. A huge thank you to Emily Bayer for opening up her doors and allowing us to use the space.

What's the purpose?

To create a shared space where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color may be in community with others who share a deep understanding of their marginalization, because of their unspoken and/or shared experience. The intent is to create a sense of safety in wellness practices such as yoga and meditation. 

The percentage of BIPOC who not only attend, but also stay, at Western modern day yoga studios is very low – this is for various reasons, some of which attribute to microaggressions, spiritual bypassing, amongst many other things and dynamics. We hope to create an automatic increase of baseline trust simply by holding space for this experience, but continuing to build upon it by leveraging ongoing feedback and representation from the varied perspectives, racial groups and levels of privilege within the broader BIPOC identity group. In the near future we hope to be able to share diversity and inclusion best practices with other people, organizations, businesses, including Western modern day yoga studios who truly want to be welcoming to the BIPOC community. 

Our goal is to have attendees engage in the practice of yoga without the reminders of negatively racialized lived experiences within their racial identities, and create solidarity among us. Anyone who attends these sessions should do so with a few conscious questions in mind (please see How to determine if participation is for you below). 

Do I need to have any experience?

Absolutely not. Modern day media shows us that yoga means you have to be flexible, do headstands, splits, etc. While those things are also yoga, there are many styles, poses, rhythms and speed. Not only does each instructor have a special offering to share with you through yoga or meditation, but they will also ensure you feel comfortable and welcome. Each session was designed for beginners to be able to participate. If you have yoga experience- great, we hope you will like or at least benefit from our styles. If we are your first exposure in yoga and meditation, how special – we hope we give you an amazing first experience and that you continue to attend. 

How to determine if participation is for you:

You might ask yourself:

• Do I authentically share this identity or background, including lived experience?

• Have I felt unwelcome, unsafe, or unseen in a space similar to the one this affinity space is being held?

• Is my presence adding to that shared sense of safety among those sharing this identity? Could my presence break that sense of safety?

If you have any doubts, concerns, or questions, please contact us!