Black Joy x Wellness

Black Joy x Wellness is an exclusive healing sanctuary for BIPOC created by co-founders Christa and Georgie.

Cultural Support

Black Joy x Wellness emphasises on community support and a celebration of Black and indigenous culture. This initiative addresses the underrepresentation of BIPOC in yoga and wellness, particularly in the Western world.

Community Events

These gatherings offer a non-judgmental environment for celebrating heritage and cultivating happiness, a well of joy for an ever-growing circle of people that need it the most.

BIPOC Culture

What It Means

BIPOC, stands for ‘Black, Indigenous and People of Colour’, it emerged in social media around 2013 and is now as a unifying force to denote solidarity. It highlights the historical alliance among marginalised groups in their collective pursuit of equity, justice, and freedom.

Terms such as BIPOC are more than just labels that refer to ‘non-white’ individuals, it signifies the strength found in collaboration and unity among ‘minoritsed’ people. Even in the 19th century, activists referred to themselves as ‘free people of colour’, demonstrating a long history of collective identity and resistance against oppression. Watch this video of Loretta Ross, US activist describe how the term women of colour came into use in 1977 as an illustration of solidarity between oppressed minority women at the time.

Watch Video

Struggles and Contributions

Civil rights movements throughout the US and UK such as the British Black Power movement intensified in the 1960s paving the way for racial integration and anti-discrimination laws. Yet BIPOC from diverse backgrounds continue to face systemic racism and disparities in areas such as education, healthcare and criminal justice.

Cumulatively, the stress of witnessing and experiencing these injustices manifests itself in our bodies as physical tension, hypervigilance and fatigue. Research shows chronic stress, socioeconomic inequity and discrimination contribute to higher rates of health conditions such as heart disease, hypertension and cancer in BIPOC. Growing evidence also shows generational trauma and these chronic stressors significantly impact our mental health.

An Equal Society

Yoga, as a holistic practice for healing the mind, body, and spirit, has the potential to foster unity and allyship among people. However, the current landscape of Western yoga often excludes BIPOC individuals, with a lack of representation and misleading portrayals in popular media.

Safe spaces are required that acknowledge the diverse experience of groups that comprise BIPOC with an understanding of how race intersects with other aspects of identity. We support conversations around diversity and inclusion, as we each recognise our role to play in shaping a more equitable society that amplifies the voices of those in need.