I have got to tell you…
Last week I had the immense pleasure of showing up at the newly open Nia Studio near the Lincoln Theater in Columbus, Ohio and experiencing the most decadent and amazing R & B Slow Flow with Yaizmen Fayne of RawYoga614. The experience was one to remember for so many reasons. The space, though small, was very warm and comfortable. It just felt familiar. The decorations were BIPOC inspired yoga images and other art pieces. The storage was ample for anything you brought with you and the yoga props were plentiful.
And then, practice began. Oh my goodness. Hunty. The practice was sooooo yummy. I have done slow flow. I have taught slow flow. I have never had a slow flow that was that nice. Yaizmen’s flow was slow, but not that slow where your mind drifts off and you find yourself doing your grocery list and wanting to move. Every shape offered felt necessary and when the next was guided, I didn’t really want to move. It was a slow that you felt in your soul; you felt yourself exhale and slow. You found that blissful stillness. You felt yourself start to release and let some stuff go while still feeling strong. Yaizmen offered variations on poses I had never tried before and they just felt so good. The pace and many of the shapes seemed to have nuances of Kemetic style but with old school R & B crooning in the background. It felt like home. It felt like hanging out with friends at a trendy cozy speak easy and allowing her words and poses to lead you into this space where you felt safe and held and able to just be.
And then, as if that was not enough, the entire room was filled with melanin. In all my years of yoga I have neva eva eva eva taken an in-studio yoga class and it been all people who look like me. In fact, I am almost always the only. I was so appreciative of being one of many melanated beauties! Not only did everyone look like me in all different tones of caramel and chocolate, but they all had locs and natural hair. They had on crop tops, belly proud, bright colors and African patterns. Everyone was showing off bodies of all shapes and sizes, all beautiful, all feeling body positive. The energy in the room was so comfortable. It was absolutely amazing.
Imma regret this, I know I will, but I will say, you should be here. Why am I gonna regret it? Because if you come, you are going to keep coming and tell more and more and more people and I am going to have a hard time getting into my new favorite class. Check out www.rawyoga614.com or www.niastudio.co to register or explore the other class offerings.
You won’t regret it. I’ll see you there on Sunday.