Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles is set to host an event aimed at addressing systemic oppression through yoga on November 2. The event, titled “What would Green Tārā Do? Confronting Systems of Oppression through Women’s Scholarship and Leadership,” is organized by the university’s Yoga Studies Program.
According to the event description, the goal is to “amplify the voices of current leadership and encourage innovation” by exploring the connections between Dharmic traditions, Buddhist philosophies, and the pursuit of social justice. “This event is more than just yoga,” said Christopher Chapple, Director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies, in a press release dated October 21. “It’s about amplifying marginalized voices, fostering dialogue, and exploring how yoga can serve as a vehicle for social change.”
This marks the 13th annual Yoga Day at LMU, which will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The schedule includes sessions such as “Trouble in YogaLand: Roundtable Discussions around Yoga as a Practice of Social Justice, Earthly Liberation, and Well-being.”
Panelists will feature experts like LMU’s Kim Harris, who specializes in Black liberation and Womanist theologies, and De Jur Jones, author of a book series on yoga in the criminal justice system.
In June 2023, LMU President Timothy Law Snyder criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in an op-ed for The Miami Herald, accusing him of being “close-minded” due to his conservative reforms against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in higher education. Snyder argued that claims of college indoctrination are unfounded, stating that college students are advocating for progressive practices around issues of race and gender before they even enroll.
Loyola Marymount University has been contacted for additional comments, and this article will be updated accordingly.
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