Integrating Social Justice into the Yoga Practices with Tejal Patel Artwork

Untapped Power: Insights and Wisdom for Collective Transformation in the Yoga Community

This podcast serves as a sacred space with a new way forward to speak the truth about yoga and the industry and to redefine success on your own terms. Bringing the collective power back into the hands of all teachers when it comes to leading classes and at the same time feeling financially supported. Together we will explore a series of intentional conversations navigating the industry and exploring the changing path ahead. We will dive into personal challenges, industry improvements and financial stability providing the tools to expand, grow and create. Amanda Strojny is a registered Yoga Teacher and Financial Coach working with you to redefine success and gain confidence in your business and life.

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Untapped Power: Insights and Wisdom for Collective Transformation in the Yoga Community

Integrating Social Justice into the Yoga Practices with Tejal Patel

January 12, 2024 • Amanda Strojny/ Tejal Patel • Season 6 • Episode 130

In today's episode I sit down with Tejal Patel (she/they) a first-generation Indian American yoga teacher, writer, podcaster, and community organizer. Tejal’s aim is to educate and empower individuals and groups around the world to practice yoga holistically and through a social justice equity lens.

We explore:

Tejal's background Story & beginning Yoga Teacher training in 2012
Seeking community through South Asian Teachers
Practicing Yoga through a lens of advocacy, belonging and equity
Integrating Social Justice into the Yoga Practices
Understanding the barriers to the yoga practice for people
Exploring accessible and pricing
Integrating authenticity and capitalism
How to find a balance with keeping integrity in the practices and making a living
Using strategic planning and flexibility to forecast what is possible and the power in exploring your numbers
Inviting in the idea of Mutual Aid for people that have more to give
Exploring the overwhelm that can come from bringing social justice into the yoga practices
Inviting in the uncomfortable and owning your own self awareness
Finding a process system when you feel like you have done enough and how to find resources to move yourself forward
Starting to broaden your scope and expand your perspective
The power in continuing to try, learn and grow
“Both” and “and” can exist together - expanding your network of receiving information
Asking the question of what you think the practice of yoga is?
Exploring where you get information and if diversity exists
Untapped power of connecting and being a connector to increase our sense of belonging

Tejal can be found decolonizing wellness with the revolutionary Tejal Yoga Online, a primarily South Asian teacher-led yoga space, with the abcdyogi interactive community, an online hub for healing and learning, and through the Yoga is Dead podcast, e-book, and signature cultural appropriation training.

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