Tokenism of Women's Day

it's tiring really

Every women’s day I talk about this tokenism but this year, I really felt it.

This year, for Women’s Day celebration, we had a fitness event organized in Arusha. I was to do the yoga section. Wait, no, this is not true. It all started with being asked for doing yoga for a mass of people. I immediately said yes! I was asked if I could bring 200 people, and I admitted that I could only try but it would not be possible. It was suggested that we make it a fitness event and add yoga there. That’s how this came into being.

In a group of 5 other male fitness instructors, my female voice went quite unheard. Yoga without mats? how is that even possible? I was told just do some standing poses. The whole event took a complete turn to being a fitness event. I was quite upset. Yoga is not fitness - I kept shouting to anyone who would listen. We need some mats, even mkekas. We need something for people to be able to sit down, do some relaxed poses after all the hyped up aerobics and dance. I had looks where they thought I was crazy, overreacting, being silly, until I gave up. I really did.

I decided to make the most of the little opportunity I got. You know when they say, men take a women’s opportunity and make it theirs, then have you as a token there, this felt like it. At first I felt like letting go, it didn’t feel right to include yoga in a hyped up fitness event - yoga is not fitness. Then I tortured my own morning class through difficult standing poses trying to see what sequence I could work with - poor them! I admitted and apologized!

I think it was a friend who reminded me of the super power that yoga has! To quieten the mind, to quieten the crowd! I did not know how I would do it while they were all standing and in high energy but I did! We did a few breathing techniques and then I convinced them to sit down on the tarmac. Some showed hesitancy and I respected that. It was our problem we didn’t have the mats - or time to let them put the mats. We jumped from one segment to the other. But guess what, they did! They sat down! They breathed! They quietened their mind, even for a few minutes.

It was magical and powerful! A huge crowd sitting infront of me waiting for me to say something. I used my voice. I advocated for yoga, even in those few minutes that I had, my showing how calming it could get.

While I wished it wasn’t like how it did happen, I now know I hold that power. I also know that next time, I will assert myself better and not be belittled. I matter, that is why I was invited. My voice matters.

Yoga holds a very special place for me in my heart and I would like to share the magic of it with you. I am organizing my first ever yoga retreat and I would love to have you join! Please email, dm, get in touch with me for the details.