Jonelle Lewis is a yoga teacher, mentor, brand ambassador and respected figure in the London wellness industry (and is currently based in Los Angeles). For years she’s pointed out inconsistencies around lack of diversity, sexual harassment, cultural appropriation and privilege in the yoga and wellness world. With the spotlight on #BlackLivesMatter and systemic racism in all areas of society, Jonelle has stepped into her voice and been invited to contribute her wisdom more widely.

Betsy and Jonelle talk about ‘spiritual capitalism’ in the modern yoga industry, how Western yoga teachers need to be honest about the spiritual roots of yoga, calling out hypocrisy productively and how practicing discomfort with others provides community and accountability. Betsy confesses that, as a yoga and meditation teacher who escaped an oppressive conservative Christian background, she gets triggered by the idea of being a ‘pretendy white Hindu.’ You can follow Jonelle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonelleyoga And get info on her yoga workshops on https://www.jonellelewis.com

Welcome to The Discomfort Practice, where this first episode is being re-posted late, due to technical issues posting it. In it, Betsy invites you into her own discomfort practice as she puts it all out there on the Internet, talking about coming from a conservative Christian family, coming out of the spiritual closet and reflecting on the pivotal moment over 17 years ago when she realised her White Privilege was a superpower to be used to hold space for those who don't have it.

Follow Betsy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thebetsyreed Her yoga account https://www.instagram.com/betsyreedyoga Her website: www.betsy-reed.com Her LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebetsyreed