As racial discrimination increases in American culture, negativity and race-related stress are also spreading. The topical movement of Black Lives Matter might be new, but this battle for the liberation of oppressed minorities have been around since the history of the United States and beyond. In recent times, people are gradually trying to support racial equality and to address the needs of the communities of color.
Then again, BLM is not only about increasing awareness of systemic racism towards the black people, but also about indigenous, immigrants, especially Latinos and middle eastern people. Because the slogan truly is “all lives matter”. Nonetheless, when racism is so deeply rooted inside our minds, is there a possible solution to eliminate it from the core? Researchers at the University of Sussex found that practicing mindfulness plays an effective role in reducing the feeling of racism and promoting inclusivity.
Mindfulness is about being present at the moment to the truth of our inner feelings — free from any distraction or judgment. Practicing mindfulness with regular yoga and meditation gives us better control over our emotions. During meditation as we breathe in and breathe out, we become an observer and witness of our own biases and discriminations from a different perspective. This opens a door of self-awareness so that we can acknowledge our uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, and disparities. When a person takes this courageous step towards inner work, it allows him/her to think more clearly and act with purpose.
As well, the Yoga community has a reputation for contributing to social activism. Yoga practitioners are taught to be compassionate, love themselves and others, diminish hatred, and release toxic emotions. In this way, one can contribute to racial justice activism and play an important role in the healing of the world. Regularly practicing mindfulness creates a scope for us to observe the patterns of our consciousness and awaken our conscience.
When we are deeply connected to our inner-self, we can see injustice, discrimination, and other negative forces more blatantly. We feel more obligated as well as accountable for our actions, that it drives us towards the path of humanity. So, let’s take a deep breath in and unapologetically support the freedom of all human being irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, and religion.
Reference:
https://www.mindfulleader.org/blog/42596-using-meditation-to-explore-privilege
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_mindfulness_can_defeat_racial_bias
https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-race-and-culture
https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-equity-and-social-justice
https://wanderlust.com/journal/radical-diversity-setting-a-yoga-standard-for-equality/
