I started my yoga practice as a teenager watching Lilias, Yoga and You with my mother. Most of my yoga teachers were white as were the students in class. I didn’t really notice or care. I wasn’t there for them. I was there for me. But I do love looking over and seeing more sisters front and center and on the mat in inclusive wellness spaces like these sista-owned yoga studios where all shapes, sizes and skin tones feel welcome.
Ama Wellness. Baltimore. Owner: Nazaahah. Group and private classes include therapeutic yoga poses, Ayurveda-inspired rituals and self-care techniques, plus programs like the Sistas Yoga Series (an intimate six-week series of yoga, sisterhood and connection) at Bmore Empowered Center. amawellness.com. www.amawellness.com
Anasa Yoga. Oakland, California. Owners: Jean Marie Moore and Katrina LaShea. Unique classes range from therapeutic Yoga for Aging Gracefully, World Beat Dance (various dance styles like samba, cha-cha and disco) and NIA (a blend of healing arts, martial arts and African healing dance). anasaoakland.com. https://www.anasaoakland.com
And Yoga. Brooklyn, New York. Co-owner: Sandi Preston. And Yoga, the first aerial yoga studio in Bed-Stuy, offers Yoga Sculpt (vinyasa with free weights) and more. andyogastudios.com. https://andyogastudios.com
Ase Yoga Studio. Philadelphia. Owner: Robin Alston. Want a relaxing and restorative practice to restore balance in your life? This is the place. aseyogastudiotearoom.com https://www.aseyogastudiotearoom.com
Bikram Yoga Wellness. Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Riverdale Park, Maryland. Owners: Kendra and Omekongo Dibinga. Some like it hot. This husband and wife team have three franchises offering hot yoga and hot Pilates. bikramyogawellnessworks.com. https://bikramyogawellnessworks.com
Colors of Yoga. Raleigh, North Carolina. Owner: Patrice Graham. Let loose with trap yoga, power yoga to bass heavy trap music, and hip hop yoga, yoga over a fusion of hip hop and R & B where random acts of dancing are encouraged, or bring your little one or your boo to family yoga. colorsofyogaraleigh.com. https://www.colorsofyogaraleigh.com
Embody Yoga. Milwaukee. Owner: Joanna Brooks. Accessible, affordable and culturally relevant yoga for all shapes and sizes. Classes include hot yoga, yin yoga, deep stretch (by candlelight) and more. embodyyogamke.com.
Haji Healing Salon. Chicago. Owner: Aya-Nikole Cook. Thriving is our resistance to the assault on Black lives. To that end, Haji offers healing through yoga, bodywork, acupuncture, reiki energy healing and wellness services. hajihealingsalon.com. https://hajihealingsalon.com/
Haven Yoga Studio. Indianapolis. Owner: Charlie M. Redd. Try intentional movement (a blend of dance and music genres) and soul flow with a curated playlists from jazz, neo soul, world music to R & B. havenyogaindy.com. https://havenyogaindy.com
HealHaus. Brooklyn, New York. Owners: Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle. In Da Haus: Diverse classes from kemetic yoga to chakra clearing meditation and healing workshops. Then chill in the cafe with curated teas, smoothies and elixirs. healhaus.com. https://www.healhaus.com
I’m So Yoga. Newark, New Jersey. Owner: Leslie Hernandez. This vinyasa flow studio also offers classes like Bailafro, fun movement that explores how African dance has molded the dance styles of today. imsoyoganewark.com. http://www.imsoyoganewark.com
Khepera Wellness. Washington, D.C. Owners: Brandon Copeland and Lauren Turner. Find inner peace over booming rap beats in Trap Yoga class. Inspire our girls in Black Girl Magic Class. kheperawellness.com. https://www.kheperawellness.com
Magnolia Yoga Studio. New Orleans. Owner: Adrianne “Ajax” Jackson. Sacred space to achieve a body-mind connection through hot yoga and meditation. magnoliayogastudio.com. https://www.magnoliayogastudio.com
PIES Fitness Yoga. Alexandria, Virginia. Owner: Marsha D. Banks-Harold. With two locations to serve Washington, D.C./Maryland and Northern Virginia you’ll find classes like My Body Don’t Bend That Way, and YogaCapo, a combo of yoga and Afro-Brazilian martial arts form capoeira. piesfitnessyoga.com. https://www.piesfitnessyoga.com
Power of One Yoga Center. Baltimore. Owner: Jana Long. An intimate healing space for meditation, private practice and yoga therapeutics for seniors and cancer management. powerofonecenter.com. http://www.powerofonecenter.com
Sacred Space Yoga Centre. Detroit. Owner: Trina Campbell. A personal space for physical, mental and spiritual healing, designed for everybody and every level, plus separate non-profit entities like Selfie Yoga for Girls (Building a Better Reflection). sacredspaceyogadetroit.com. https://sacredspaceyogadetroit.com
Seviin Yoga. Atlanta. Owners: LeNaya and Branden Crawford. It’s lit. Do a power flow vinyasa sequence in a heated LED lit room or vibe and flow to Bey in a Beyonce Yoga class. www.seviinyoga.com. https://www.seviinyoga.com
Urban Asanas. Brooklyn, New York. Owner: Jyll Hubbard-Salk. This studio in Crown Heights caters to every ethnicity, gender and budget. Think restorative yoga to soul music and vinyasa to hip hop with a live DJ. urbanasanas.com. http://www.urbanasanas.com
Y.C. Yoga For Life Center. Birmingham, Michigan. Owner: Yvette Cobb. The center offers kundalini yoga, Hellerwork (to align and balance the body) and other wellness services that blend Eastern and Western philosophies. ylcenter.com. http://www.yflcenter.com
Yoga House Houston. Houston. Owner: Jill Minard. Kemetic yoga studio teaching a modern version of ancient Egyptian yoga developed by Asar Hapi, doctor of chiropractic medicine, and Yirser Ra Hotep (Elvrid Laurence), master yoga instructor. yogahousehouston.com. https://yogahousehouston.com
Ama Wellness
