Gallery | Kymlee Yoga

kymleeisawesome

Writer. Editor. Yoga Teacher.

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Just hanging out by the creek.
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#gooutside #kimanddaveinlove #anniversary #westforktrail

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Celebrating our 6th anniversary with a quick trip to Sedona. Enjoying the experience of having no demands on our time.
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The 6th anniversary is the iron anniversary, a symbol of an unbreakable bond. After 5 years of international, long distance romance, once we were able to be together for the long haul, I think we just decided we'd never be apart again.
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#kimanddaveinlove #anniversary #sedona #hesmyperson

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Yesterday was our first yoga workshop for women of color and it was such an honor to facilitate this space for these beautiful souls. They came ready to share with and learn from each other; they left with an enduring connection, knowing that they have the right to take up space in the yoga community. Thank you for validating the need for this space and showing up with such open hearts. .
I'm grateful for you all, and especially my workshop partner @serina.payan.hazelwood who invited me to collaborate with her to create this space together. .
If you didn't make it this time, know that this is just the beginning of our work of pushing back against the oppressive systems that show up in our yoga spaces.
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #Ahimsa #yogacommunity #getconnected #yogaforeverybody #standup #decolonizeyoga #takeupspace

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One more day!
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#Repost @twistedyogastudios (@get_repost)
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Join @kymleeisawesome this Saturday from 1-5pm for this special workshop for Women of Color — including but not limited to Indigenous, LatinX, Indian — who have felt excluded, unwelcome or unsafe in a yoga space.
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In this 4-hour workshop, we'll use the tools of self-inquiry and contemplation, to explore the impact of the systems of oppression and privilege on our experiences within the yoga community. This practice will include a discussion about how these systems show up in our lives, a healing meditation, and restorative yoga practice.
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You’ll leave with a renewed spirit and a deep knowing that you have the right to create a safe space for yourself through the practice of yoga, armed with yoga tools you can use to combat oppression in the world, and cultivate inclusive yoga communities.
Tuition: $150

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Just one more week until our Reclamation and Renewal workshop for women of color, and I'm so excited, I can't stand it.
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Join me and @serina.payan.hazelwood next weekend at @twistedyogastudios for an opportunity to unpack how the systems of oppression show up in yoga spaces and how to use the tools of yoga to combat those systems on and off the mat.
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Link in bio. Any questions or want to discuss sponsorship options, shoot me a DM.
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#yogastrong #yogacommunity #getconnected #yogaforeverybody #findyourcenter #athayoganusasanam

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#Repost @shesgottahave (@get_repost)
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One more time for the people in the back.

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Rebuilding from the ground up.
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I was planning to participate in an IG yoga challenge for aerial conditioning, and I realized that most of the program was not accessible for me right now. I had to modify most of it or find other alternatives.
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Which is totally fine. Having to find accessible alternatives is a great teacher for teachers. Instead of trying to keep up with the challenge, I decided to focus on the program provided by my physical therapist. It's all core strength and hip stability anyway.
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I'm up to a minute 30 seconds on the plank. 💪🏾 🧘🏾‍♀️
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #yogateacher #yogaforlife #yogaforeverybody #blackgirlyoga #blackgirlmagic #nevergiveup #alwaysletgo

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Why do we need a WOC Yoga workshop? It's about cultivating an inclusive community. Join us October 26 at @twistedyogastudios in Tempe. Check out the link in my bio to sign up.
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If you need a scholarship for tuition or you are in a position to help provide tuition, please DM me or @serina.payan.hazelwood
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Huge thanks to @kaitlivelycreations for seeing the work we're doing and offering to help us tell the story through video. We are grateful for allies you you.

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I've spent most of my professional, academic, and social life surrounded by whiteness, often the only person of color in the room. My time as a yoga teacher in the Phoenix area has been no different. During this time though, I've been asked by lots of women of color about where they can connect with other WOC yogis. My first instinct was that there aren't many and I didn't know where they were. My next instinct was to accept the challenge, which is why I've teamed up with @serina.payan.hazelwood to create a space by us and for us.
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We've both experienced, first hand, the effects of toxic culture and whiteness (white supremacy) on the mat, in the studio, and in life. Sometimes racism within a yoga space is subtle and may show up as simple as you being the only person of color or diverse in body shape or size in the room. You may not even realize why you feel excluded from the space. This workshop is for any person of color who has felt excluded, bypassed, or simply ignored on the mat.
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Date: October 26, 2019
Time: 1-5pm
Location: @twistedyogastudios
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Check out the #linktreeinbio to sign up. If you have questions, feel free to send a DM.
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #yogacommunity #getconnected #blackgirlmagic #wocworkshop #BetterTogether #powerandequality #dismantlewhitesupremacy #yogaforeverybody

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#Repost @tk_wonder (@get_repost)
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Yesssss Jenifer Lewis! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾Don’t let anyone tell you your vote doesn’t count. If that was indeed true there wouldn’t be voter suppression. We see it. We hear about it. We know it is real. 👊🏾#nationalvoterregistrationday ••• @jeniferlewisforreal —“While filming with @LenaWaithe in these streets, I ran into the @FaithfulCentral choir. Thank you so very much. ♥️♥️♥️ Today is #NationalVoterRegistrationDay Y’all registered yet? Do it at vote.gov”
#RegisterToVote #Vote

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Being back in the aerial studio this week was empowering. Just a couple weeks ago I was so frustrated with this healing process because I was still in a lot of pain and feeling unable to do the stuff I love (moving my body).
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There are still some things I'm not ready for, but in addition to being in considerably less pain, I was able to teach without making anything worse. I'm glad I was able to sub the classes and support the studio, but I'm also glad I only have one aerial class on my schedule next week (Wednesday @ 5:30pm). .
Check out the #linktreeinbio for my full schedule
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #practicemakesprogress #nevergiveup #alwaysletgo #upsidedown #getconnected #gettwisted #getelevated #meetmeonthesilk #bgm #blackgirlmagic #yogateacher #getempowered

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Getting back into the aerial studio this week. Wednesday 6pm, Friday 10am, Saturday 12pm. All beginner's level aerial flow. .
Check out the #linktreeinbio for my full schedule.
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#yogastrong #meetmeonthemat #meetmeonthesilk #gettwisted #getelevated

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A rare moment with my siblings. The only thing that would make this video more perfect is if our other sister had been there too. 😍 👑 💯
#Repost @poeticsoul_np (@get_repost)
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Still one of my favorite videos ❤️ We are so silly.
#mothersday2019

#mifamilia #family #handsfull #mommyofsixkidsandacanecorso #mommyofsix #familyfirst #photo #pic #motherhood #mom #thepursuitofme #tothineownselfbetrue #blessed #unapologeticallyme #livinglifetothefullest #love

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The PT told me my pelvis was twisted. She took me through an adjustment; said we might have to reset again. She reminded me to stand with my weight evenly distributed. And for the first time in maybe years I felt what it was like to be at my own center of gravity, with both feet rooted, not leaning forward or back, right or left.
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I'm not sure when I lost myself but the physical act of finding my center was powerful. It was revelatory. It still took me a couple of days to realize the physical misalignment was a manifestation misalignment elsewhere in life. Sometimes I'm slow, but I get there eventually 😂 .
Before I could have this realization, I experienced a series of losses. When things started to crash around me, I didn't know what the fuck was going on. And I've spent the last month or so grieving. I understood why, there was something inside telling I shouldn't be. I ignored that voice telling me I didn't have time to cry, and I let myself process the pain. .
I'm still in pain, but now I'm on high alert, practicing awareness. I'm noticing that subtle feeling of misalignment: unintentionally standing on one foot, leaning forward, collapsing into myself, sitting sideways or on one hip, etc). Every time I notice I've move away from my center, I practice coming back.
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And there, at my center of gravity I feel the most effortless strength.
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #NeverGiveUp #alwaysletgo #findyourcenter #getconnected
#bgm #BlackGirlMagic #yogateacher #yogaforlife

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#Repost @saraclarkyoga (@get_repost)
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I wish for people to think twice before using the word "minority." I've never used it when it comes to black and brown bodies and I never will. I am not a minority. I am not less than half of a whole number. I am not a tiny piece of the human race. My melanin represents the vast majority of bodies on this earth. We actually take up a whole lot of space. Even our influence is powerful. Our style and grace is at the root of main stream culture. From shoes to jeans to jewelry to hair to lips to hips to food to music to dance to language to...the list is too long. "Marginalized."
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I am okay with this word. It's accurate and it acknowledges systemized oppression. It makes people think. But minority. Not even close to describing Us.
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📸 @lululemon .
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#empower #unify #amplify #morethan #takeupspace #speakup #thinkaboutit #melanin #magic #mypeople #represent #showup #love #adoration #blackgirlmagic #blackyogateacher #lululemonglobalambassador

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GET YOUR MIND RIGHT .
Join me for an all levels flow, followed by an exploration of the rules of the mind with @sarah.pacaro, and an introduction to the benefits of CBD with @sunshine_fit_training. Saturday, September 15 1-3pm.
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Only a few spots left! Check out the #linktreeinbio to sign up.
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#yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #yogacommunity #getconnected

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The decline of the American middle class and expansion of economic inequality can be traced back to the economic policies of the 80s and 90s. The deregulation of industry and suppression of the worker's right to organize and bargain collectively. Now we have a "right to work" gig economy, with workers afraid to demand better because they might lose their jobs.
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Let this day be a reminder of the power of labor. When we organize and stand together we can create better opportunities and improve the quality of life for everyone. We don't have to be afraid, because we have already have a framework for a labor movement. .
But we have to stand together.
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#laborday #workersrightsarehumanrights #cometogether #unitedwestand

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#buildeachotherup #getconnected #wholesome #bgm #blackgirlmagic
#Repost @chelsealovesyoga (@get_repost)
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Watching the US Open yesterday was quite emotional. Witnessing Naomi (after her win) invite 15 year old Coco to interview with her, was like watching our now Spelmanites and high school senior #ylaleaders mentor our #ylacamp participants. .
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In a society that encourages competition over connection on most days, the beauty exists in the moments when we lift as we climb.

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#fbf to when I had all the hair.
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I had a lot of hair for a long time and for a while, I thought I couldn't have short natural hair. Even though I cut it off out of necessity (I have way too much, densely thick hair for teaching hot yoga), as soon as I let it go, I realized that I was hiding. And I was done with that
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#lokhasamastha #befree #BlackGirlMagic #iamlivingyoga #naturalhairdontcare #naturalhairjourney #nofear #showup #shorthairdontcare

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I practice every day and before my injury I was going to a couple studio classes a week, but I've been careful and... Scared.
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While I was in ATL I found myself so compelled to get to a studio class and move in a way that was familiar but more challenging than my home practice. I made my way to @behotyogaatl because it was offering a hot yoga class at the right time and place. It was exactly what I needed.
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I had to modify most of the standing postures, and I was grateful for the teacher who gave me space to do so. This is the kind of teacher I endeavor to be: offering guidance while giving students space to do what works for them.
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I'll be getting back into the studio to practice and teach this week. I'm adding another hot class to my schedule, as well as a few workshops. Check out the #linktreeinbio for my teaching schedule.
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#meetmeonthemat #yogastrong #athayoganusasanam #yogaeverydamnday #yogateacher #blackgirlyoga #practiceandalliscoming #moveyourbody #breathofjoy