Yoga in Africa

Where can we go to live and practice?

Currently living near one of the three cities with the highest number of yoga studios per capita, Washington D.C., where I teach in the neighborhoods of Tennley town and previously Capitol Hill, I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience for the past six years; however, the call for a change gets a little louder the more I see what’s happening to America. My classes are packed, there are a lot of people out here suffering and I wonder if I can do this for another four more years. There’s a huge world we live in, certainly, there are other places to go. Right?

The question is, if I wanted to practice and work anywhere in Africa, where would I go? Fishing around the Cape Town Magazine, I found Kafui Awoonor, studio owner of Holding Space in South Africa, who newly opened her studio to eradicate racism in yoga. She says in the article, “After eight years of being part of the Cape Town yoga community and having various experiences of being excluded and discriminated against, I decided it was time to stop asking and start building.” Her sentiments feel very familiar and it’s these kinds of communities that I’d like to join and support.

There’s also Milkias founder of Addis Yoga in Ethiopia at the Haile Grand Hotel. In an interview posted on his IG page, Milkias speaks on the importance of listening to yourself, when it comes to what you eat, especially. He says, “You can have that something that you eat and makes you sick but before eating, you had a feeling not to eat it, but you eat it anyway, this is why it’s important to listen to yourself.” Yes, and listening to ourselves is critical especially now, when many stand at a fork in the road, trying to make sense of everything.

Lastly, there’s The Yoga Studio Accra, in Ghana, where monthly mantras are set, mantras such as “I accept and love all people.” As well as Korpha an aerial yoga studio by Korpha, and Bliss Yoga Accra founded by Nana Amoako-Anin; all in Ghana. It seems as if there were more options in West Africa, where a wave of yoga fitness seems to be flowing.

It’s important to recognize yoga leaders throughout the diaspora, so that we can support, build and grow. Because of a shared view to value diversity, heard repeatedly throughout my research of yoga studios in Africa, I feel there would be a common bond felt. This is the time to listen to ourselves and give permission to go where we’re led to go.

Thanks for reading,

Eboni