Setu Yoga Proves Yogis Come In Different Shapes, Sizes, Ages, Genders and Races

We love highlighting the benefits of yoga and the importance of inclusivity in different spaces, so naturally, Setu Yoga caught our eye!

The Setu Yoga community, founded by Libby Nicholaou in 2017, welcomes practitioners of “different nationalities, races, gender identities, body types, and life stories” and provides a directory of teachers in different areas looking to connect with other yogis. The overall mission of Setu is to show that not everyone who does yoga is white and thin, and that minorities are just as passionate and active in the yoga realm as everyone else.

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Community and compassion first! 💯⠀ The Setu team faces similar challenges as everyone on social media – concerns for the likes, engagement, following, etc. We hear the messages that tell us we're doing the right thing when the numbers are high. But that's not where our soul is or where we see you – the teachers and students who we call community.⠀ Today is the first of October and #EmotionalWellnessMonth. Our goal over the next 31 days is to live beyond the internet – to see our self worth and yours. We are all so amazing and the internet only knows a part of that. Let's help each other shine everywhere we exist.⠀ .⠀ #bodylove #selflove #joy #presence #breathe #newyorkyoga #mindfulness #community #inclusivity #compassion #love #yoga #setucommunity #yogaeveryday⠀ 📸 @savannahlaurenphoto

A post shared by Setu (@setucommunity) on Oct 1, 2018 at 11:02am PDT

One way the Setu community spreads its message is through its new promotional video entitled “I See You.” The short video showcases nine yoga lovers’ personal stories and how their yoga journeys are breaking the mold. 

“You might relate with all or one of them. They are powerful and can speak to different parts of our lives. These stories have the potential to empower each of us to use our practice in more impactful ways.”

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I'm excited to share a project long in the works. In January, I got together with a film crew and nine Setu practitioners in a Brooklyn warehouse for 12 hours of filming. Today, I'm excited to share our video I See You. In I See You you'll hear nine personal yoga stories. You might relate with all or one of them. They are powerful and can speak to different parts of our lives. These stories have the potential to empower each of us to use our practice in more impactful ways. This video is a labor of love from all who were involved including, Jacob Krupnick, who produced it and all the practitioners in it. I hope you are as moved by it as I am. – Libby Watch the whole video on www.setu.yoga 🎥 @hillaryfrancescayoga @ericagarciayoga @itsjyll @stephanieacostayoga @galaxygalaxy @yogisoli @thephilosophersom @gooneybeeyogi @vibrantawakenings @yhacupuncture #setucommunity #seturimpact

A post shared by Setu (@setucommunity) on Oct 16, 2018 at 6:28am PDT

“I hope this video gives people insight into a lived experience they might not have been aware of before and encourages people who’ve had similar experiences as expressed in the video to feel less alone. I hope it opens up people’s minds about their yoga practice, teachers, fellow students and people they see in yoga pants and out in the world,” Nicholaou told in a submissions piece to our family at Blavity.

If you are interested in a Setu Yoga session, head to their site to learn more about their classes. And if you are not ready to take a class but want to explore their teachings, try following along with one of their free yoga videos; just make sure you sign up to become a subscriber!

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