SPOTLIGHT
“[Yoga] helped us stay connected and helped my mental health.” - Jer Loudenback, Deaf yogi.
Yoga Project
BY JESSALYN AKERMAN-FRANK (SHE/HER)
A
s the only Deaf yoga teacher practicing in Minnesota, I provide classes in American Sign Language and, being Deaf myself, understand how to incorporate cultural sensitivity and use of cultural norms to gain the trust of my yogis to allow them to let go of the one sense they use to gain information, which is their eyes. As many of you experience yoga through the ears, we Deaf experience the practice through our eyes. To close our eyes for a minute is challenging, not relaxing. Teachers who understand this are able to work with their yogis to achieve relaxation and calmness through the eyes in different approaches.
10
I also work with the DeafBlind community and consultants to create an experience for DeafBlind participants similar to programs for sighted/hearing yogis. When COVID hit, teaching at the local Deaf club was no longer an option, and
DeafBlind yoga in person before COVID.
DEAFBLIND
teaching went full-time online, under Deaf North Yoga. We were uncertain if this would work, but the online program was a huge success. Not only did we achieve launching twice-a-day, five-day-a week, classes for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing yogis and ASL users, we attracted members from other states. “Yoga helped me through the pandemic,” states one Deaf yogi, Albert Walla. “It helped us stay connected and helped my mental health,” says Jer Loudenback, another Deaf yogi. To be inclusive, Jessalyn launched the DeafBlind Yoga project in partnership with Lindsey Moon, President of DeafBlind Association. COVID impacted the DeafBlind community more as their access to communication was cut off. Communication through tactile (signing with their hands) and/or using protactile (signing including other body parts) was their only access to information decreased isolation. To help eliminate isolation, I began to work with community members who received vaccinations. I provided tactile
MNYOGALIFE.COM
