Afro Flow Yoga and its enriching benefits
Afro Flow Yoga is an emerging practice in the field of Yoga, which impregnates stimulating dance movements of the African diaspora with the gentle stretches of meditative yoga. It was created by Leslie Salmon Jones, a dancer, and her husband Jeff Jones who is a musician. They got the idea after a trip to West Africa, where they learned about their ancestors and the rich African culture. They wanted to create a blend of traditional West African music and dance and the practice of yoga. They started teaching Afro Flow Yoga in 2008 and are continuing this practice even today with the help of virtual media.
The whole process gives joy and elates the heart of people through smooth yet powerful movements and the soulful rhythms of uke bass mixed with tambourine and Indian bells. Each session of Afro Flow Yoga is a dynamic flow of movement and sound. Since 2015, Salmon Jones is hosting classes through Northeastern Crossing, a department of Northeastern University. Maria Luse, who curates the department’s programming, talked about the significance of this place. The crossing hosts different skill-building programs and wellness workshops and brings together people of common interest for self-improvement. The sharing of experiences by people from different backgrounds, along with practising Afro Flow Yoga creates a magical and soothing environment.
The sessions are being shifted to a virtual setting as all the outdoor activities have come to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging in this activity can help people overcome their anxieties and process their emotions. Confinement in our homes may create situations of bad mental health, which can be prevented through this practice as it brings diverse communities together and allows the sharing of feelings and opinions. This power of collective energy promotes healing and creates a sacred space. These innovations in traditional practices should be encouraged and practised as every innovation brings with it new learning.
Kriti Vishwakarma
Originally published at https://globalshala.com.