In this week's episode, Zaaki and Sheena speak about the LGBTQ+ community and how they may (or might not!) feel comfortable in the Yoga space. We also talk about global cultural norms and South African ones that could affect these marginalized communities. We learn the difference between co-conspirators and allies, share tips to better support your queer friends and students. 

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, we want to hear from you about intersectionality, rainbow washing, and if yoga has played a role in your journey with sexuality.

Themes and Timestamps: 

-Zaaki and Sheena catch up 00:30

-Litanies to M Heavenly Brown Body by Mark Aguhar 04:30

-Talking about Pronouns 08:00

-Examples of Intersectionality and teachers in this space 12:30

-The South African Legal System’s stance on LGBTQ+ Rights- are they actually upheld? 15:30

-Rainbow Washing around Gay Pride 28:27

-Excerpt from “How LGBTQ Yoga Can Heal a Community” by Lindsey Danis 30:05

-Ally vs Co-Conspirator 34:50

-Tips to be a Better Co-Conspirator 36:50

Additional Resources: 

Connect with us: 

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@zaakiyahbhikha

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

In this week’s Community Segment, we hear from Harpinder Mann about why the TikTok trend of yoga/ soft-corn p0rn emerged, how we can fight against it and the importance of authentic Yoga. Harpinder is a trauma-informed Yoga Asana and Meditation Teacher, an author, and the founder of  Womxn of Color Summit. If you loved hearing from Harpinder, check our Resources for more information on her book Liberating Yoga.

We also get a psychological and academic angle from repeat guest Mandy Wu. Mandy is a yoga instructor and practitioner based in Cape Town who focuses on merging Eastern Alternative practices with Western Neuroscience and therapeutics.  She also lectures on Psychology and Diversity, equity, and inclusion and has extended this to the corporate space with women in management globally.

We round it out by sharing stories sent from you guys! Some aren’t surprising at all- but still scary…

Themes and Timestamps:

-Zaakiyah and Sheena Catch up 00:30

-Harpinder Mann 05:06

-Mandy Wu 12:35

-Stories from You 18:35

Additional Resources:

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@zaakiyahbhikha

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

[email protected]

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

Sheena and Zaakiyah have both been propositioned on Social Media for more than yoga classes. So have many of their fellow teachers.

This week your Yoga Big Sisters share their experiences and discuss why this is happening. This extends to social media and Western society’s misunderstanding of Yoga, Tantra as a concept, and the Karma Sutra as a yogic text.

There’s no holding back this week, so you probably don’t want to listen at work, with kids or family around.

Themes and Timestamps:

-Zaakiyah and Sheena Catch up 00:30

-Story Time 03:33
-Using Women’s jobs as ‘a way in’ 09:00

-Why is this happening? 10:20

-The Tik Tik Effect 00:12:45

-Bikram’s SA allegations and Consent within Yoga 16:45

-Brahmacharya for non-renunciates 19:05

-Straight Guy PSA: Coming to Yoga Spaces with the Right Intention 22:30

-Social Media Misogyny- Research Findings 38:10

-OnlyFans is not only SW and Feet 27:05

Additional Resources:

https://medium.com/@kstarcalabs/please-stop-hyper-sexualizing-the-yoga-practice-5e989a62f6bd#:~:text=The%20sexualization%20of%20the%20yoga,be%20the%20worst%20of%20it.

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast
-@zaakiyahbhikha
@sheena.teaches.yoga

[email protected]

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

Zaakiyah and Sheena look at yoga and capitalism and whether they can coexist. They also chat about small ways to start rethinking our everyday impact as part of consumer culture.

If you’ve ever wondered about how much your favourite gets paid and if yoga teachers can unionize, they talk about that too. Find out about the social responsibility of the yoga businesses and the link to yoga ethics.

Themes and Timestamps:

-Zaakiyah and Sheena Catch up 00:00:42

-Yoga industry statistics 00:06:59

-Studios and Yoga Teachers (Juicy parts below) 00:16:20

-Buy less and choose well 00:26:20

-Healer story: Simple living 00:30:20

-Yoga Teacher Trainings 00:31:00

-Yoga Alliance 00:32:45

-Yoga In Colour 00:33:10

-Be grateful 00:34:10

-Accessibility 00:38:10

-Galmorsing yoga 00:38:20

-Trends 00:41:10

-Code of ethics 00:44:09

Additional Resources:

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@zaakiyahbhikha

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

Zaakiyah and Sheena introduce The Yoga Big Sisters community segment where you’ll hear from industry insiders in South Africa and abroad. Our goal is to bring our yoga community together to yolk. Go back to the roots of the meaning of yoga which is to unite (yolk), showing that this practice of yoga is not inclusive but for everyone regardless of age, race, body type, disability … 

In this episode we introduce three yoga guests each sharing their unique perspective and experience on the DEI - Yoga and Social Justice topic. You will hear from the following:

Susanna Barkataki - A teacher, inclusivity promoter, and yoga culture advocate. I see a world where yoga unites us all and excludes no one . . .But that wasn't always my understanding.I’ve been practicing yoga for as long as I can remember. Rooted in my Indian and British background, as an immigrant to the US I experienced a lot of violence because of my race and culture. The very things I was made fun of for later became the tools for my liberation. Yoga helped me decolonize and love myself.

Taruni Radha -  social locations are she/her, African and black. She is a quiet social justice and light worker, and a simple Bhakti yogi with a global mindset living her purpose of sharing the jewels of yoga, mantra meditation and wellness living. She has been immersed in asramas to study physical and philosophical Yoga with her gurus for 8 years. She has travelled to the epicentre of the yoga system (India) to deepened her knowledge and understanding of the beautiful yogic culture in order to share it and make it accessible. She values the privilege of creation, knowledge-building and is a qualified educator and a Masters student specialising in Educational Technology. “I serve to teach others about ways that they can honour themselves as soul, and their mind, body and spirit through mantra and sound meditation and physical yoga. 

Jai Namasté

Anita Sundaram- an International Yoga and Ayurveda Teacher, Lifestyle and Beauty Coach, Corporate wellness educator and ERYT 500, dedicated to inspiring individuals to discover and follow the calling of the heart and path to inspired living through Yoga, Ayurveda, Beauty and all that is Sacred.

Mandy Wu-  is a yoga instructor and practitioner based in Cape Town who focuses on merging Eastern Alternative practices with Western Neuroscience and therapeutics.  She also lectures on Psychology and Diversity, equity and inclusion and has extended this to the corporate space with women in management globally

Themes and Timestamps: 

Zaakiyah and Sheena Catch up and introduce the segment 00:00:42

Susanna Barkataki  00:6:59

Taruni Radha  00:9:52

Anita Sundaram 00:18:42

Mandy Wu  00:28:33

Additional Resources: 

https://www.susannabarkataki.com

https://anitasundaram.com/

https://www.instagram.com/taruni_radha_yoga/

https://www.instagram.com/theyogacreative/

https://www.instagram.com/theyogacreative/

Connect with us: 

@yogabigsisterspodcast

@zaakiyahbhikha

@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

Zaakiyah and Sheena begin a discussion about whiteness and yoga. This includes what its like to be a POC in yoga spaces, what studios can do to get it right without tokenising, and what you can do if you’re a white yoga practitioner who doesn’t want to continue the problem. 

Zaaki has much to share because she works with yoga teachers and practitioners in the DEI space. Like an indigenous meditation and peeling back layers of privilege. This weeks episode is a must-listen if you started the work during 2020’s BLM-related awakening for the yoga industry- or if you want to start right now!

In Part 2, you’ll hear from industry insiders in South Africa and abroad for the take on it.

Themes and Timestamps: Timestamps as per recordings provided, not edited

version

- Trigger warnings and disclaimer (00:02:46)

- Indigenous Meditation (00:03:47)

- Asking where you come from (00:06:28)

- Experiences of BIPOC Students in Yoga Spaces (00:11:37 and throughout the episode)

- Privilege exercise connecting to your self-awareness and gratitude (00:34:40)

- Making Yoga Spaces Safe for BIPOC Students  (00:36:04)

- Proximity  (00:39:50)

- Episode Recap (00:51:17)

Additional Resources:

1. https://native-land.ca/

2. https://nationalseedproject.org/Key-SEED-Texts/white-privilege-unpacking-the-

invisible-knapsack

Connect with us:

- @yogabigsisterspodcast

- @zaakiyahbhikha

- @ sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

- Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on

Instagram to have your issue resolved.

- Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

This week, Sheena and Zaakiyah discuss how yoga can nurture a relationship with yourself. Starting with how yoga affected their self-love journeys and mindset shifts that their help relationships with those around them.

Zaaki shares practical tips on using affirmations, her favourites, and how to build personalised ones for you. Yogic philosophy encapsulates all this with concepts like Ahimsa and Chitta Vritti.

Listen to the end to find out how you could meet up with Zaaki and Sheens in Joburg during the month of February 2023.

Themes and Timestamps:

- Check in on how you might be an a*shole to yourself (00:1:38)

- How helped Sheena and Zaakiyah be kinder and less critical of themselves (00:05:49)

- The kind of mindset shifts that Yoga can bring (00:11:01)

-Can you Stand Up for Yourself without Being an Asshole? (00:14:00)

- The Bhavagad Gita: A lesson in asserting yourself when needed (00:16:30)

- Ahimsa and Chitta Vritti (00:18:26)

-Self-love practices, using affirmations (and Zaaki’s favorites!) (00:26:20)

- Not judging yourself During a Yoga Class (00:32:20)

Additional Resources:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/sthira-and-sukha-steadiness-and-ease

https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/spirituality/first-book-yoga/

https://www.yogabasics.com/connect/yoga-sutra-1-2/

https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/philosophy/yoga-sutras/path-happiness/

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

- Got a problem, secret, question, or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

Meet Zaakiyah and Sheena as they dive deep into the beginner's guide to yoga and share personal stories of how to navigate starting your yoga journey.. You’ll learn how  …… You will also meet Sheena’s cat (LOL)

Want to start yoga but don’t know how? Maybe you’ve tried yoga out and haven’t managed to stick with. Even if you’ve been practicing for a while, this episode has something for you.

We’re starting at the beginning. This episode looks into how and where to start your yoga journey, what to expect in a class, different types of yoga and red flags from studios and teachers.

We also chat about props you might have at home and alternatives to mats- because even though yoga is a $88 billion industry, you don’t have to spend money to practice yoga.

Themes and Timestamps:

-How we met (and become yoga besties!)  (00:1:54)

-How Sheena and Zaakiyah started as yoga beginners (00:12:12)

-How to start your yoga journey (00:20:54)

-Styles of Yoga (00:20:00 and through the episode we touch on the styles)

-Yoga props that you have at home  (00:29:20)

-Tips before joining your first yoga class (00:30:30)

-Yoga studio and Teacher Red Flags (00:42:39)

-Yoga Etiquette (00:53:07)

-Arc of a yoga class (00:59:07)

-Yoga Sutra 2.46, (01:06:54)

Additional Resources:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/sthira-and-sukha-steadiness-and-ease

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@zaakiyahbhikha

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram

About Podcast

First-of-its-kind yoga podcast in South Africa to help you learn and unlearn what you know about yoga. Get ready to dive deeper, beyond the physical practice, and question the yoga industry.

We believe that yoga is the ultimate system to solve any of life's challenges. Here we discuss yogic philosophy, and taboo topics and bring you into a community of like-minded people.

Listening will also give you practical tips and answers to your burning questions about yoga- and more!

About The Hosts

Zaakiyah Bhikha is a yoga teacher with 5 years of teaching experience in South Africa and over 600 hours of yoga teacher training. She has an online program designed for yoga teachers to learn about diversity and inclusion work and become change agents in their yoga communities. Zaakiyah is the co-founder of Yoga In Colour.

A movement based in South Africa striving for true inclusivity, diversity, knowledge sharing, empowerment & healing within the broader yoga community.

Yoga has changed Sheena Bagshawe’s life, which is why she’s dedicated to serving yoga students. Sheena is a full-time yoga teacher and part-time writer.

Sheena’s teaching focus is on nervous system support for anxiety and stress. She has experience helping beginners get a strong foundation, having developed in-person and online courses for Yoga Basics and Beginners. 

Connect with us:

-@yogabigsisterspodcast

-@zaakiyahbhikha  

-@sheena.teaches.yoga

Chat with us:

-Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved.

-Submit to be a podcast guest by sending us a DM on Instagram