WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK SO FAR?
The most rewarding aspect of my work is the reclamation of my body’s wisdom. Being the house of my soul, being able to connect with my body on deep levels, move it with fluidity and grace, and learn its sensations has been a boost to my physical, emotional, and mental intelligence. Its wisdom permeates all facets of my life, and allows me to fully express myself authentically, and show up in the world with true honesty.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MORE CHALLENGING ASPECTS?
The challenges with teaching yoga as a Black Muslim woman concerns representation: when teaching a practice like yoga, it becomes increasingly distracting to teach to a student body that does not reflect you. Rarely do my classes have Black students, and even more so, Muslim students. The internal crisis that Muslim individuals have expressed regarding participating in a practice that is affiliated with Hinduism (by culture), is truly disheartening.
NAME A BLACK MUSLIM WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO YOU.
My mother. She minded 6 kids devotedly and committedly, she developed an array of skills to reduce family costs (i.e. BOMB seamstress), she maintained phenomenal health and fitness, and when the time was right, she moved into the workforce and found her own sovereignty and freedom, with no guilt, shame, or regret impressed or insinuated on her husband or children. That kind of love is inspiring.
