This episode has the groundedly, fierce Avery Kalapa (yoga
practitioner, community weaver, and wellness organizer). This
conversation was recorded days after Adam Toledo and Daunte
Wright's murders and among harmful transphobic information
& legislation continue to endanger those we love.
Self-discernment (or viveka which is the Sanskrit for discernment)
is a running theme as we talked about the dynamics of white
supremacy, disrupting habits & systems of harm, sustaining
action within activism, permission for our mystic selves to express
our art.
Hear Avery explore how developing spiritual and/or movement
practice(s) can support our discernment especially while navigating
social locations. We talk about Resma Menakem's book, My
Grandmother's Hands and Resma's discernment invitation relating the
fight, flight, freeze and annihilate responses within our nervous
systems, which could also be acting from our samskaras.
Bonus, Dorothy (Nameh's neighbor donkey) makes her presence known
during the conversation too.
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Avery is a community weaver, wellness organizer, and a
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, eRYT500, YACEP, BFA, with 20 years
experience in yoga. Avery's approach is rooted in anti oppression:
yoga for inner healing towards collective liberation. They love
creating healing spaces that that don't require assimilation for
queer & trans folks, outsiders and changmekers to often left
out of mainstream yoga. Celebrated for their enthusiasm,
accessibility, and depth of technique, their teaching reflects a
deep gratitude for the Iyengar Lineage.
Avery is involved in various yoga equity projects,
such as ABQ Queer Trans Community Yoga. They're also a gardener,
and parent. Avery is a white, queer, nonbinary settler grateful to
live on unceded Tiwa land, in Albuquerque NM.