Protesting against hate was a memorable part of my childhood. When I was growing up, my parents took me to rallies and marches. I remember making signs that said, “No Blood for Oil,” heading downtown, and standing in big crowds in Minneapolis. At family gatherings, my uncle would proudly share stories of getting arrested at protests with his son.
Resistance, in my mind, had a particular look: bold, defiant, and loud.
Resisting hate did not look like a packed yoga class in a room with beautiful views of the woods on three sides. Yet, as I was setting up for my recent yin yoga and sound healing class at the Minnesota Arboretum, putting up my “All Are Welcome Here” sign, I was thinking about social justice.
Outside the class, I was organizing, planning, and preparing for the promised attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and people seeking reproductive care. I knew that defending the rights of others required one essential ingredient: self-care. We can’t help others if we don’t also take care of ourselves.
In yoga, the Sanskrit term upeksa is often translated as “equanimity.” It refers to maintaining mental and emotional stability, even in the face of difficult circumstances. In a world filled with political and social unrest, cultivating upeksa can help us stay grounded. It gives us the strength to resist reacting with anger or hatred.
Recently, this practice helped me during a moderately heated discussion about social justice with a colleague. I felt anger rising within me. Instead of reacting impulsively, I took a deep breath, grounded myself, and chose to listen instead. This act of equanimity transformed the conversation into a constructive exchange, rather than an argument fueled by frustration.
Maybe you’re just trying to get through the day. I’ve heard a lot of people say things recently like, “Rest is resistance.” That is what many need at this point. I understand that feeling.
Other folks sound like they’re bracing for a fight.
For me, neither “rest” nor “fight” fully describes my mindset. Instead, I have had the privilege to focus on connecting, preparing, and learning. I’m seeking connections wherever I go, looking for people who share my vision of diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where every person is treated as inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
As always, I’m doing my best to create the conditions for equanimity. Yoga at the Arboretum, whether as a participant or a teacher, is one of my favorite ways to pause intentionally. It’s a place to put down my phone and notice the beauty of nature. It’s a space to connect with others. It’s an environment where experiencing beauty feels effortless.
Whatever your mental state, cultivating mental clarity through yoga and meditation can help us respond to hate with mindfulness and composure, rather than knee-jerk reactions fueled by anger. Together, we can create the conditions for a world where love and justice prevail. We can act one breath, one pose, one sound, one pause, one connection at a time.
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