Deafhood Yoga® is a journey, born of real life experiences.
During the early 1990s, Kristen embarked on a personal journey that continues to this day. In her exploration of yoga styles and approaches, she faced the lack of classes provided directly in American Sign Language (ASL) by Deaf teachers. She then became a “self-trained” yogini student for life.
After experiencing neck, back and spinal injuries within three months, (snowboarding… flipping a truck downhill… being bedridden for three months), she discovered that yoga helped heal her injuries. Kristen began practicing an intensified level of yoga, pranayama, and meditation. During this process, Kristen understood firsthand how the mind, body and spirit worked together to be one. It was impossible for any of these components to work independently from each other.
Through out life, Kristen witnessed severe oppression, fear and ignorance within society of the way Deaf people were presented, viewed and treated. Kristen acknowledged that there was a better way of life: love and humanity. But how to create that paradigm shift and change society’s ideology of Deaf people?
In 2008, she studied Dr. Paddy Ladd’s Deafhood concept by taking courses in the Deaf community. A discussion took place about Dr. Ladd’s statement that Deafhood is “a process to decolonize our mind, body and spirit from colonization” and suddenly, everything aligned. It made sense to marry the concepts of Deafhood and yoga… to move forward towards healing and strengthening the unity within each Deaf human being and within the Deaf community. With this reawakening, the vision of Deafhood Yoga® emerged.
Kristen envisioned Deafhood Yoga® as a study of social entrepreneurship, aiming for positive social changes. Everyone is a positive change maker. Be the change you want to be.
Deafhood Yoga® inspires Deaf people from all walks of life who yearn access to yoga by providing a Deaf-centered experience taught directly through American Sign Language. Deafhood Yoga® is a new branch of yoga that embodies the blissful gifts of Deaf and yoga practice.
Deafhood Yoga® established in 2010, registered in 2011 and continues to be a process and journey towards centering oneself.
Video: Logo
Hands represent the natural gift of communication through sign
language by Deaf people. A Deaf person’s hands were used as a
model for the logo, capturing the beauty of sign language.
Hand positions called mudras, are also used in yoga. For example the
mudra, jnana, is the thumb and the index finger connected. This
represents yoga’s ultimate or primary goal, the oneness of humanity
with cosmic consciousness. By using the hand shape in sign language,
it also represents the idea of connection and unity, a perfect
combination.
The sun shining within the hands indicates new beginnings, the life
cycle, wholeness, centering and the light of awareness that comes
from within.
The colors in the logo are deliberately chosen for their meanings.
• Orange: devotion and spirituality
• Yellow: learning, sharing and knowledge
• White: represents purity, unity and peace
The gesture shown in Deafhood Yoga’s logo, shows the human being
expressing this uplift of consciousness….. aiming for freedom.
Deafhood and yoga align to “just be”.
Video: Gratitude
The vision and the reality of Deafhood Yoga® would have not been possible without the ongoing support and special angels within various communities. Gratitude and appreciation go to all who believe in Deafhood Yoga®.
