Now, more than ever, Black men need a safe space to find a brief moment of peace. The headlines paint a picture of devalued Black lives, while our justice system repeatedly turns a blind eye to basic human rights whenever Black men and women try to stake their claim. Fortunately for Black men (and women) in Washington, DC and Atlanta, there is a new sanctuary—the yoga studio.
Brandon Copeland, founder of Khephera Wellness Group, is the genius behind “Trap Yoga,” a class intended to appeal to a new brand of yogis. Copeland began practicing yoga while attending Howard University as a way to alleviate stress and deal with increased pressure in his personal life. Through his own practice, he started to share his passion for yoga with fellow Howard students, most of whom were new to yoga practice themselves.
Still noticing the lack of brown faces—particularly those of Black men—in DC’s thriving yoga community, Copeland sought out to create a class that would help to bridge the gap between yoga and his peers, with the help of trap music.
As Copeland explained in his interview with BlackDoctor.org, the “heavy base” and “good vibes” from trap music inspire the flow of this class. It’s no surprise that Trap Yoga has taken off from its humble beginnings in Washington, DC and expanded to new cities like Atlanta, another mecca for young, Black professionals.
Black men, in particular, have much to take away from the practice of yoga. Copeland explains, “Black men have a stigma placed upon them,” that can make some men apprehensive about practicing yoga. Fortunately, “yoga can give [men] a certain level of control and focus to allow them to make better decisions about themselves, which can impact their lives more than they know.”
In Copeland’s class, Black men don’t have to live up to stereotypes. Rather, “yoga can give them the power to rise above expectations,” that are oftentimes unfairly placed on them.
With the help of Trap Yoga, Copeland has been able to change the face of yoga, and introduce…
…his students to the numerous benefits of the practice. Copeland shared with BlackDoctor.org that yoga can help to improve balance, strength and flexibility—which he describes as the “holy trinity” needed to access your deep breath. Yoga can also prepare your body to meet more of life’s physical and mental demands.
Yoga has also been found to provide some relief to people with chronic conditions from arthritis to depression. Copeland recommends that students try a variety of yoga styles and classes to take full advantage of yoga’s unique benefits.
Copeland offers some of that variety at his Washington D.C. studio where students can begin and expand their practice with classes like:
You can learn more about Copeland’s yoga studios in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta by visiting kheperawellness.com. Otherwise, if you’re inspired by Copeland’s story and practice, you can explore the benefits yoga by trying another class in your neighborhood, and add some much needed melanin to the “traditional” face of yoga.
Sharita Jennings is a health policy attorney, ACE certified group fitness instructor and nutrition specialist. She leads fitness classes in Washington, DC and provides online coaching and tips on her site, GetFitLikeThat.com.
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