Yoga in Action in Minneapolis

Content warning: This episode and show notes include discussion of gun violence, death, and ICE agent brutality

In this episode, Jivana Heyman sits down with Lucia Yess, owner of Yess Yoga studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota to hear how her community responded to the violent ICE surge that swept through their city. Lucia shares the moment Alex Pretti was murdered one block away from the studio and how her studio became a place of refuge for neighbors seeking safety and mutual aid. She emphasizes the need for community support and how her studio's actions were aligned with their mission of liberation, compassion, and connection. Together, Jivana and Lucia reflect on the connection between yoga philosophy and social justice and what it looks like to truly live yoga off the mat.

In the second part of the episode, Jivana is joined by co-host Deanna Michalopoulos to explore what the yoga teachings say about service and action. They look at karma yoga and passages from the Bhagavad Gita, and discuss how genuine service isn't a duty we force ourselves into but something that flows naturally when we feel connected to others. They close with a reminder that service can be small and quiet, and that taking care of yourself counts too.

Topics Discussed:

Lucia's background in social work and social justice, and how it shaped Yess Yoga

Jivana’s activism work in the 90’s during the AIDS epidemic

Financial accessibility and sustainability with sliding scale models

Yoga practice as escape vs. practice as transformation

Responding to "keep yoga out of politics"

The yoga teacher as community leader

The power of collective action and compassion

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