Sophia Ott Yoga

Part 3 The path forward since then has not been easy. Racism is not a fairytale of something once redeemed never to emerge again. With each instance of implicit bias I come to awareness of, with each overt discrimination I witness, with each moment of silence or passivity I allow, I wrestle to conquer my racist self over and over again. As a parent of biracial children who pass as white, I have a duty to include racism in their education so I can hope they will not perpetuate this evil. There is always more to be done as we cannot escape the society in which this racism was birthed and has been maintained. When my kids went to elementary school and I packed the same ethnic food for them, I worried they too would face criticism and bullying despite a diverse student population. Sadly one of my sons did get flack from one of his white friends about his “gross and stinky food". This time I was prepared and able to discuss with my son what it meant and what he could choose to do about it. The conversations are only getting harder, but if I choose silence or passivity I am part of the problem, failing to participate in the change process. Where ever you are in your racial identity journey, I sincerely beseech you to take a moment of radical honesty and acknowledge that there is work to be done. Educate yourself, be part of the solution in word and deed. If not you, then who? Let it begin with me. BIRMINGHAM PLEDGE SIGN IT – LIVE IT – SHARE IT I believe that every person has worth as an individual. I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color. I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as others. Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions. I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity. I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort. #racism #antiracism #birminghampledge

Part 2 With shame I recall hiding in a high school classroom when students gathered on the quad for a protest in support of a Black teacher who had been openly discriminated against. I didn’t know what to think, how to think, or what to do. So I stayed silent and unseen, feeling the shame, guilt, and burden of my ignorance. Even when my younger brother was pulled over by police for driving to school in my mom’s luxury car while wearing a red bandana, I never stopped to question why that happened to him. I didn’t think about what that meant for him to be surrounded by several cop cars with lights flashing, hands on guns. I got to college and denied my own racism when my roommates challenged my assumptions about people’s value and worth as hierarchical. All the while I was offended when I went to work at a predominantly white summer camp in northern WI and found myself seated in corners of restaurants and little children following me around grocery stores whispering with big eyes staring. Those four years in the midwest were bewildering as I assimilated to white culture more fully and forgot that I would never blend in. I was in it and I was of it, this racist society, but I still didn’t know or understand it. When I went to graduate school, I deliberately chose a program with a multicultural emphasis; something about exploring and validating all cultures spoke to me. Finally I was learning what had never been stated, confronted with my internalized racist beliefs, and forced to reckon with what sort of person I wanted to be and call myself, forced to decide what type of society I was participating in and building. At one of my internships, I encountered the Birmingham Pledge for the first time and with mild trepidation signed my commitment to social justice. Continued ... #racism #antiracism #birminghampledge

Part 1 ... Let It Begin With Me My first memory of racism was in first grade when my classmates made fun of me for my ethnic lunch, onigiri packed lovingly in a bento box. Only one friend stood up for me and dared to eat the food, proclaiming it delicious, silencing my bullies. Racism showed up in various ways growing up in Miami during the 1980s, the era of crack cocaine and seeing prostitutes on Biscayne Blvd as we drove to school. There were the casual derogatory comments toward Blacks from my father suggesting they were “lazy”, the ignorant comments of mother saying Latino women were “better maids” than white women, and the collective tension when a dark skinned person walked near the car, that very loud click of my mom locking her vehicle and the angry defensive shouts of the man who had been racially profiled. Race was never directly addressed as my immigrant parents played into the model minority mythology, sending me to prep school to educate myself to a better life. Even though my parents transferred me to a different school when more incidents of bullying occurred, I never knew why the switch happened until I was an adult. Regardless, it was abundantly clear though unspoken that I should never consider dating anyone with dark skin. Continued ... #racism #antiracism #birminghampledge

#blackouttuesday BLACK LIVES MATTER

Staring into the deep end, wiggle waggle balancing, life for so many in constant turmoil, more than my seemingly petty concerns. Trying to take moments of joy but overwhelmed with survivor’s guilt. Recognizing my privileges and resolving to keep True on the issues that really matter. We all suffer when one suffers. Lift each other up. Be part of the solution.🙏🏻💖 . #yogalife #presencepeacejoy #privilege #togetherwerise #dancerspose #natarajasana

These words from 1 year ago ring even more true today as we are coping with unpredictable and unprecedented stressors. May we be kind to ourselves and each other. . Follow me on my new mental health and wholeness account @drsophialinott for more goodness.💖 ~~~~~~ Belonging ... what each and every one of us is seeking. Ask: How can I belong to myself? Be that which you seek ... in Breath, in Presence, in Compassion. When you are anchored in your “belongingness”, seek to gift it to those you encounter whether friend, stranger, or even foe. Gaze gently, smile kindly and through your actions proclaim: We BELONG to each other. ✨💖🌈🕊 . #presencepeacejoy #holisticpsychologist #yogateacher #embodiment #connection #belonging

Hi Friends! I started this account in 2014 for yoga and have loved learning and posting about the practice. Now as I evolved, I’ve finally decided to start a new one for all the mental health related posts, especially as I plan to post more knowledge and skills. Please follow me @drsophialinott for these tidbits! Thanks for your support and encouragement. 🙏🏻💖 . #holisticpsychologist #mindbodymedicine #healing #health #wellness #drsophialinott

Sometimes it’s as simple as sweating it all out. This 40 min handstand flow class is geared to the experienced yogi looking for more cardio and strength. For the intermediate practitioner, you can skip the handstands and keep it to a vinyasa instead. As we head into week 6 of Shelter in Place here in NorCal, I’m continuing to use mindful exercise as an outlet to hours of sitting and online therapeutic work. Find what works for you, and if you give this a try leave me a comment or suggestion! 🙏🏻💖 . Link in bio or find it on my YouTube channel ✨ . #yoga #vinyasaflow #yogapractice #handstand #handstandpractice #yogastrength #exerciseistherapy

Happy Easter from our family to yours. May today be a reminder that Hope springs eternal and give us the fortitude to carry on in this crisis with greater courage and kindness.