Reflections on White Allyship, Emma Rattenbury The Birthplace of the First Public Iyengar Yoga Class in the UK,

Reflections on White Allyship

Emma Rattenbury

As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group established by IY(UK) in July 2020, and a member of Iyengar Yoga in Action (IYiA) since last December, it was brilliant to have the opportunity to attend the free event on equity and unconscious bias at this year’s virtual convention. Over 400 of us logged on to hear from Margaret Hall and Helen Townsend, Chair and Vice Chair of the new Equity Standing Committee (see p. 66), talking about their plans to create greater inclusivity within Iyengar Yoga in the UK. Craig Blake and Tina Freeland, both black members of IYiA, gave powerful speeches about the connections between the Black Lives Matters movement and yoga. We were then treated to a ‘mistress’ class in Unconscious Bias from Suky Bains of Challenge Consultancy. The latter part of Suky’s presentation focused on the key elements involved in being an active ‘white ally’ in the anti-racism struggle. As a white, middle class, cis-gendered lesbian my privileges are many and my journey towards white allyship has been, and continues to be a long one, marked by plenty of mistakes and new learnings along the way. Suky’s list of ten key points for white allies was very useful.

1. Acknowledge the existence of racism and all other forms of discrimination and unconscious bias.

We need to start by acknowledging that racism and other forms of intersecting discrimination are deeply embedded in UK history, culture and structures, including within our own organisation. 2. Have the conversation. One of the best ways to understand racism and bias is to talk about it with others, as we are now starting to do in our yoga community. 3. Be anti-racist. The best definition of this I have read recently is Ibrahim X Kendi’s book, How to be an AntiRacist. As he says, if we are not active in the struggle against racism, then we are passively colluding with structural racism. 4. Be upstanders, not bystanders. When we hear comments or witness behaviour which disrespects or diminishes others on the grounds of colour, gender or any other perceived difference, we need to say or do something.

5. Interrupt racist (or sexist, homophobic, disablist

etc.) jokes and comments. This can be done simply by stating that you find what is being said offensive, or it makes you uncomfortable. 6. Talk to other white people about these issues. The seminar and this article are part of that process. We can all table the issue of anti-racism at our regional yoga forums, we can promote useful reading and viewing in our local newsletters, and encourage friends and family to look at these issues with us. 7. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Acting as a white ally will involve ‘getting things wrong’ sometimes. Don't let this stop you from speaking up.

8. Notice how racism is denied, minimised and

justified and challenge this. When we see or hear denial and defensiveness such as ‘but I am not racist’, point out that racism is not just about overt and offensive comments and actions, but is deeply embedded in how our whole culture works, as our unconscious biases demonstrate. 9. Amplify the voices of racialised and minoritised people. IYiA was set up precisely to do this. By starting each of our fundraisers with a short speech by a BIPOC member, the group has started to model this. 10. Don’t give up! The BLM movement, spurred into active life by George Floyd’s death over a year ago, is now seen in some quarters as ‘of its moment’ and no longer ‘fashionable’. It is critical that as yogis we are in this struggle for the long term. My experience of working within IY(UK) over the last year on the issue of anti-racism suggests that until more of us see ourselves as white allies, we are not going to transform our organisation and our culture into a place where our Black and Brown colleagues – and potential new Black and Brown students – can feel truly welcomed and accepted.

Sheffield-based Emma is a Level 2 Iyengar yoga teacher and worked on diversity and community engagement until her retirement five years ago.