Last year I had the pleasure to test drive this course led by Joanne Wohlmuth, a long-time colleague, before she made it available outside of Bermuda.  We met weekly in the evening to explore racial justice in the context of yoga teachings and principles.  Joanne, I found,  was the perfect guide to lead me in these teachings.  She grew up in, and later raised her children in a bi-racial family. She is an active Catholic and chairs the Peace and Social Justice ministry for the Roman Catholic Church in Bermuda. She is a devout student of classical yoga scriptures, and she spent most of her academic career working as a human rights investigative officer and a diversity consultant for corporate Bermuda.  She is a 40 year veteran and student of yoga. 

Racial Justice and Yoga Course Summary

10-week Course (via zoom), Offered by Joanne Wohlmuth MA, E-RYT-500,YACEP, C-IAYT  This popular course is offered internationally through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).  Credits: 15 credits Dates:  Thursdays, January 5 - March 9th  Time: 7:00-8:30 pm (US EST) Cost:  $220 To register or enquire further contact: yogaontherock@logic.bm

Format

Each week the session began with a short pranayama and meditation practice to center us before the material was shared via a powerpoint presentation.  At the end of the presentation ample time was allowed for discussion and questions for further clarity.  We ended again with inner work, meditation, to allow all to sink in. 

In the course we explored “What is Racial Justice?” ; we examined what it means to “be an Anti-racist”; we learned “How and Why meditation/contemplation helps” in this work; we delved into  “How to develop Sincere Intent”; and how this can move us to right action. 

What I found helpful was Joanne’s example of looking at these  issues as if we were viewing through a kaleidoscope.  Everyone sees  things differently and if we can switch the focus a little to the left or the right, we can see issues from many sides and get a  better picture and clearer sense of how to better understand those whose views are so different from our own.   This is important we learned,  because racism is deeply ingrained and affects those who are white differently than people of color.  In society we are often taught to take sides rather than live in the uncomfortableness or holding the idea that contra positions needn’t be contradictions.   We learned in order to build resilience, we need to build the vocabulary of awareness ( by working with avidya and asmita), and if we want to support a more equitable society, it is necessary to do this deeper work both on the individual and the societal levels. 

 She encouraged us to dig deeply into our own prejudices - conscious and unconscious, individual and societal -  to determine our own “swadharma” (personal duty)  in regards to racism - our own work in the field.  We all have a part to play and this course helped me determine mine, (part of which is to share this course with you!).

Her unique situation, wisdom  and willingness gave me freedom to ask frank questions like:  “What is it like to be black?  To be married to a white person?” to live in a society that oppresses you because of skin color? She replied, “Your role is to be an anti-racist white person.  Don’t worry so much about what it is like to be black.  Read White Fragility,  it will give you the language to be white”.

We discovered Christianity’s role in racism over the centuries and  explored Jesus’ teachings to heal these wounds by highlighting writers such as Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Richard Rhor, Howard Thurman and  MLK.  

Also, we discussed how meditation supports and sustains the inner work.  From her studies with Father Richard Rohr on non-dual thinking she encouraged us to consider: both/and vs. right/wrong or  black/white - the role of opposite as they play out in our dualist mind.   Non-dual thinking, we learned, allows us to hold the paradox.  It makes room, but it can only happen “by assuming an inner stance that offers the least resistance to be overcome by Grace.”  We learned, based on her work with Rohr, that true knowing comes through the “heart”, not the “mind”. Regarding “Right Action” she cleverly  brought in Yoga philosophy from Bhagavad Gita  to help us determine our duty (dharma)  and explore why our karmic choices matter. 

Since taking the course I have begun, slowly doing my own inner work.   Over the past year I have been working mainly, to just become more aware.  For instance, I have diversified my instagram feed; I now observe my reaction on the street to black and brown people ; I am practicing acceptance of others even when I strongly disagree. I am asking more questions, and praying for insight. I also keep asking,  “What is it, that is mine to do?”.  After the course, I did purchase two books to keep exploring this work on Racial Justice and Yoga.  I have started my reading with White Fragility and My Grandmother’s Hands.  

This course includes an extensive recommended reading list laid out week by week based on the topic of the week to be explored after the course.  If you are feeling called, I recommend prioritizing time this winter to dig deep and join a committed teacher to explore these critical topics.

About Joanne "Sujatha" Wohlmuth

Joanne is a 40 year veteran yoga teacher, and trainer. She commenced her study and practice of yoga under the guidance and direct discipleship of Yoga Master Sri Swami Satchidananda and The Integral Yoga Method.  She also has a BA degree in Journalism and a double Masters Degree in Management and Human Resources.  Much of her career life has been as a human rights investigator and diversity trainer and consultant for corporate Bermuda. 

Joanne  co-manages Bermuda's oldest yoga studio, The Yoga Centre, and is the founder of her own yoga studio Yoga on the Rock.   She is a E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and trainer and YACEP provider, under Yoga Alliance and  a certified yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.  She is a trained long-term teacher of meditation and is a graduate ( and ongoing student) of both Eastern and Western Mysticism, studied through the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

She brings all this training  to bear in her yoga work and hope for the world - a place where justice, peace, mindfulness living and prophetic witnessing continues to grow as we live, move and breathe.

Featured image by Wylly Suhendra via Unsplash.