Black History Through Yoga

Happy Black History Month! This month sparks much conversation, some filled with excitement and celebration, others met with resistance and ridicule. When I think about Black History Month, I always go right back to middle and high school. Every February, my school would put up posters in the hallways featuring Langston Hughes, Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou, and other influential Black figures. I recognized their names and faces, but I didn’t know their stories, their lives, their work, or their contributions to the world. Growing up, Black History felt like names and posters—but the depth of their achievements, the celebration of their art, inventions, literature, and stories of resistance were missing. The education was missing.

Years later, I came across a photo of Josephine Baker. She was striking a pose, one leg turned out, one hand on her hip, the other raised above her head. It immediately reminded me of Tree Pose. Inspired, I placed her photo side by side with one of myself in the same yoga posture. That single moment sparked something greater. It became a way to honor those who came before me, those who paved the way for the freedom and opportunities I enjoy today. That one image led to a larger project that continues to evolve, not only through photography but through storytelling.

The faces I once saw only on posters became people I truly knew. Their stories amazed me, inspired me, and gave me the courage to step out on faith as I pursue my own dreams and goals. Today, I’m excited to share images from my Black History & Yoga series, highlighting leaders in Black history, some well-known and others whose stories deserve more recognition. Through their journeys, we gain a deeper understanding of resilience and triumph.

And through yoga, we can embody those same qualities, strength, determination, and perseverance.

Black History is one part of our collective history. When we embrace all of history and celebrate the contributions of those who came before us, knowledge becomes power.

Celebrate Through Yoga: Ardha Matsyendrasana I (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose)

Dr. Carter G. Woodson devoted his life to education, not just as a means of sharing knowledge, but as a tool for empowerment. While attending university, a professor told him that Black people “had no history.” Woodson’s response was firm and clear: “No people lack history.” He recognized the deep connection between the exclusion of Black historical narratives and the racism and oppression Black people faced. He also understood how this absence in education could instill a sense of inferiority among Black people.

Determined to change this, Woodson made it his life’s work to illuminate the contributions of Black people throughout history, not just for the benefit of Black communities, but for the enrichment of all people. In 1926, he introduced Negro History Week, choosing February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two pivotal figures in American history. Fifty years later, this week expanded into Black History Month, officially recognized by President Gerald Ford.

But for Woodson, Black history was never meant to be a separate category. He believed history should reflect the full story of humanity, stating:

“What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world, void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

Twists help us wring out tension and create space for renewal. This pose, named after the sage Matsyendra, reminds us of Woodson’s impact, turning the tide of history, shifting perspectives, and bringing forth greater clarity and awareness. Just as we turn in this pose, we, too, can turn knowledge into action.

Celebrate Through Yoga: Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose)

Most of us know Rosa Parks as the woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, but the real story is even more powerful. On that day in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks took her seat in the first row of the “colored section,” exactly where she was permitted to sit under segregation laws. When the white section filled up, the driver demanded that she and three other Black passengers move. Three complied. Parks did not. Instead of immediately refusing, she quietly slid from the aisle seat to the window seat, making room, but this still wasn’t enough. When ordered again to stand, she firmly said, “No.”

I had always thought she was sitting in the “whites-only” section. I had always believed she simply did not get up. Learning the truth made me realize something deeper, sometimes, we can be exactly where we’re supposed to be, doing exactly what is right, and still face criticism, judgement, or opposition. But that doesn’t mean we should back down. Parks’ quiet defiance teaches us that standing firm in our truth, even when others try to push us aside, can create lasting change.

Like Rosa Parks’ act of courage, this heart-opening backbend requires both preparation and determination. It can feel challenging, even impossible at times. But the shape of the pose, a bow, reminds us of the strength found in persistence. When we step into our power, we bend but do not break, creating space for transformation.

Celebrate Through Yoga: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog)

In Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday wrote:

“I’ve been told that nobody sings the word ‘hunger’ like I do. Or the word ‘love.” Maybe I remember what those words are all about. Maybe I’m proud enough to want to remember Baltimore and Welfare Island, the Catholic institution and the Jefferson Market Court, the sheriff in front of our place in Harlem and the towns from coast to coast where I got my lumps and my scars, Philly and Alderson, Hollywood and San Francisco— every damn bit of it.”

Holiday’s voice carried the weight of her experiences poverty, racism, and personal struggle. She didn’t run from her past; she embraced it. She understood that the hard times, the scars, and the lessons shaped her, and through her music, she turned pain into art.

Her story reminds us that where we come from matters. Even the most difficult parts of our past can become a source of strength, guiding us toward resilience, empathy, and growth. The next time you listen to Billie Holiday, pay attention, not just to the words, but to the emotion behind them. What memories rise within you? How does her voice make you feel? Perhaps she teaches us that no matter how far we’ve come, we should never forget what shaped us.

B.K.S. Iyengar once said that backbends are challenging because we cannot see the back body—we can only feel it. Like Holiday’s journey, this pose invites us to look back, not to dwell, but to acknowledge our past and use it as fuel to move forward.

Celebrate Through Yoga: Bharadvajasana (Seated Twist with Chair Support)

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was once told by a teacher that Black people had no history, no culture, no accomplishments. Instead of accepting this falsehood, he dedicated his life to proving otherwise. As a historian, writer, and archivist, he built an immense collection of books, manuscripts, and art documenting Black achievements around the world. By 1925, his collection had grown to over 10,000 items, and in 1926, the New York Public Library purchased it, making Schomburg the head curator. Today, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture holds over 10 million items, preserving the legacy of Black history for generations to come.

It is often said, “If Carter G. Woodson was the father of Black history, then Arturo Schomburg was its curator and guardian.” His work reminds us that history is not just a collection of facts, it is alive in the stories we pass down. And those stories, no matter how small they seem, can spark something profound in others.

So I encourage you, don’t stop here. Ask your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends about their history. What did their families do? Where did they come from? What shaped their lives? You may be surprised by how much it inspires you.

Like Schomburg’s mission to uncover hidden history, twists help us turn around, shift our perspectives, and release what no longer serves us. This pose, done with the support of a chair, reminds us that transformation isn’t something we do alone, we have support, whether in history, in community, or in practice.

Celebrate Black History Through Yoga

The leaders we celebrate here have shaped the world in ways that reach far beyond a single month or community. Honoring them is not just about looking back; it is about recognizing the threads that connect us all.

When we listen to our parents’ stories or trace the journeys of our grandparents and great-grandparents, whether they came from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, or beyond, we are uncovering more than names and dates. We are discovering the roots of our own existence, woven into the vast, shared history of humanity. By reflecting on their legacies, we find inspiration to contribute to the world they helped shape, to push forward, to uplift others, and to create a future where generations after us can continue this ever-evolving story.

Practice with Deidra Demens at YogaRenew

Join Deidra each month for Foundations+, a class designed to break down intermediate and advanced poses and practices. This class takes place one Friday a month at YogaRenew. The next session, focusing on Backbends, will be held Friday, February 21st, from 6:00–8:00 PM ET (In Person).

You can also practice with Deidra weekly, both online (on the YogaRenew app) and in person, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 AM ET.