Yoga and proud! - 5 ways to make your studio and classes LGBTQIA+ friendly. 

What is a safe space? There can be endless discussions about the language of inclusivity, but language can only go so far. A safe space is not any place that says it is a safe space. Language is a piece of a greater effort of action that is felt as well as heard. Whether you are a member, an ally, or just a curious yogi, here are some ways for your studio and classes to feel actively inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Get on the same page

Everyone is personally responsible for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Being clear about your values as a teacher, studio owner, or any kind of yogi is present in your actions and leadership. As part of a team this is all the more important for studios as united spaces to feel empowered in their beliefs. For studio owners it is your responsibility to make the inclusive spirit known throughout all areas. This can mean many things; using explicit inclusive language in contracts and onboarding processes, leading the way for the suggestions of this article, and being consistently attentive and approachable for issues and ideas related to LGBTQIA+ in yoga. 

For individual teachers this can mean different things, as sometimes we cannot always work for spaces that completely align with our values. However it is important to realize the spaces you occupy are by extension representations of your personal values, and money should not take priority over those….tricky. Wherever you work always remember that your actions and words DO go noticed by others, and are always an opportunity to be a kind inclusive human. 

Facilities and Hospitality

Think about what the journey is for a yogi to enter your studio. In that sequence where might there be unwelcoming obstacles? 

More often studios are changing previously gendered facilities of bathroom and changing room to be welcoming towards trans and non-binary yogis.A gender-free restroom is an important place for people to feel welcome and seen in spaces, and points to studio leadership actively supporting yogis that do not feel a binary allocation of gender.

 This is a sensitive topic to navigate; everyone deserves their privacy and comfort for bathroom and changing purposes but not at the cost of denying someone else’s sense of self. Gender free facilities are perhaps the most welcoming and in my opinion personally important to build a culture of trust and focusing more on the yoga rather than other perceptions of sexualization or gender politics. I have also seen differences in gendered facilities such as “Women including trans women” and “men including trans men”. This is a more explicit indication of supporting trans community. If this is not possible you can always be clear in signage the option for yogis to choose the option that best fits their preference. This is not an ideal option as it can force someone to abide by a binary system they do not agree with. 

On top of facilities are the voices and protocols of hospitality. It should be clear but to remind staff to not assume the identity of any yogi. Yes it can be hard, and yes it is still important. Two people coming to class together do not make them a couple, or NOT a couple, and hairstyles do not indicate gender. Ask for pronouns and be curious and caring before overly confident.  Some positions like studio owner are responsible for making this clear to all staff, but everyone is responsible here for being able to support and remind each other.

Cueing

Use anatomical instead of gendered language. Gendered language can be confusing and sometimes isolating. I don’t hear it much in classes but occasionally there will be an unnatural moment stating different variations for men and women. In general this is outdated as women and men can always attempt to do the same things. If there are key differentitations that are anotomically evidenced then there is a different need in language e.g. pregnant people avoiding intense twists or taller people being more comfortable bending their knees in seated forward folds. 

There are also less obvious cues and language that can come across as exclusive. Just a few weeks ago there was mention from the teacher of how doing yoga this early is great because then we will go back to our boyfriends who haven’t even woken up yet. There are a few uncomfortable things about this sentence, the foremost being assuming hetero status. I won’t be returning there soon. 

Inclusive programming

Small things go a long way. As a teacher you may choose to host a Queer, FLINTA, or other specific class that can be a clear space to feel welcomed in a yogi community. Recognizing pride month on social media or in the studio can do a lot. As a member of this community, it is not your full responsibility to represent inclusivity for the studio or yoga as a whole. You can, however, consider using the platform of leadership to explicitly invite other LGBTQIA yogis to the mat whether its in personal word of mouth to others or a more public facing “Queer Yoga” event, for example. 

Representation and marketing

Many studios innocently say they are safe spaces and still market the image of the skinny cis-white hetero-appearing woman in matching sets from an expensive brand. If spaces are truly inclusive, it is felt through all their outputs and not just the sign at the front desk. It is felt through inclusion in marketing materials, waiver forms (usually binary based), and all the information in all media. True allyship means taking the time to be thorough and consistent in your forms of media; eliminate binary language, hiring and advertising with appropriate attention to representation and inclusivity. 

Lastly I have to remind myself that all letters and individuals in the LGBTQIA+ are different individuals. There will be mistakes, insecurities, clumsiness as well as warmth, welcoming, joy, and true inclusion. Through it all the least we can each do is be active, brave, and openly ready for feedback.