Black Girl Yoga & Affirmations Session
- Eryn Glover
- Nov 8, 2022
- 2 min read
Black Women of Excellence host a weekly “Girl Talk” that focuses on mental health, sisterhood, and personal development every Monday. However, at BWE, we love to have fun and throw small, creative events for the girls on campus! This Monday (November 7th, 2022), BWE hosted a “Black Girl Yoga Sesh”, which featured gratitude, mindfulness practices, affirmations, reflection, and of course... YOGA!
This was a very special meeting; we saw a variety of new, friendly faces and were able to form promising friendships. After concluding our customary club introduction, we went into the Ice Breaker: Proclaiming our Gratitude! This ice breaker involved going around the room and answering the question: “what are two things you are grateful for today?” Answers included family, health, friendship, and our HAIR! LOL.
Right after our moment of gratitude, we went into unified group affirmations. When we began the affirmations, many girls in the room spoke timidly, almost afraid to sound silly. But toward the middle, we all had our arms raised high, chest poking out, and were screaming these charms of self-love.
“!!!”
“My Black is radiantly beautiful”
“I am always headed in the right direction”
“By shining my light, I help others shine theirs”
“I am worthy of love”
“Being me is how I win”
“I am my best source of inspiration”
“!!!”
We asked the girls how it felt to say those affirmations aloud. Many girls admitted that it is hard to talk kindly to themselves at moments when they do not feel adequate. “Sometimes... I can be my own worst enemy”, said one of our members. There was a general agreement to be kinder to ourselves and to love ourselves even when we do not feel exemplary.
Finally, it was time for the yogic event of the hour. Before we began, we explained that yoga is a practice that has many mental, emotional, and health benefits that help improve heart health, flexibility, and relaxation. Our “Black Girl Yoga Sesh” was designed to relieve stress, allow students to feel fully present in their bodies, practice deep breathing, and soothe pain stored in the body. The girls in Black Women of Excellence fulfilled a forty-minute yoga practice that left them sweaty, stretched, and ultimately peaceful. To solidify the aura of peace throughout the room, a 5-minute breathing and mindfulness practice was done.
To finish this special BWE event, everyone participated in group reflection, individual reflection, and group discussion. During our group reflection, many girls spoke up about new things they had learned about their bodies and their mind.
Our Individual reflection was a journal prompt that asked:
“What do you need to hear the most? What affirmation do you need in your personal life right now?”
The answers to this question were absolutely beautiful.
“I am LOVED”
“I am CHOOSEN”
“I am STRONG”
“There is SAFETY in LOVE”
~ Written by Jaelyn Gartrell
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