Hey lovely Reader,
Welcome to 2024!
At The Yoga Hostel, we closed and opened the year with New Year's Yoga! We danced, flowed, breathed, and released intentions of freedom for the year ahead.
As the clock struck 12, we threw our confetti into the air with the magic we were calling in written on it!
It was a dream come true to ring in the new year with my yoga community! Plus we got to watch the fireworks from the Castle to the Bridge sparkle across the sky!
Are clothing swaps Wellness?
As a yoga studio owner, I host community events such as Clothing Swaps for Women, Kids Yoga, and Accessible Yoga for everyday people.
This weekend, I'm hosting my monthly Clothing Swap for Women. I shared it in a wellness group in Lisbon then was told to remove my event because it's not "wellness".
It made me laugh because what they really meant is that Clothing Swaps are not "white wellness".
This event isn't about getting fit, losing weight, dieting, mindset, juice cleansing, only working out with people who look like me, or offering some new made-up yoga style that really isn't yoga at all.
This event is about community.
Out of respect to the admin, I removed my event and kindly educated them on the fact that Clothing Swaps are wellness because it provides free clothing to women who may not be able to afford a new jacket this winter or an interview outfit so they can feel confident to get their dream job or go after their dreams in general.
Because like it or not, when we look good we feel good which results in us feeling empowered to achieve our dreams.
So I removed my event and went on with my life.
Then a few days later, all these amazing women began sharing in the group that clothing swaps are wellness and how they would love to clean out their closets so more women can feel empowered and supported in their day-to-day lives.
Then even more women reached out to me asking if they could come to the event and not only swap clothes but sell local Portuguese and holistic products so that we can better support our local community.
I write this with tears in my eyes because this is WELLNESS and it's YOGA too.
This is what happens when we use our voices for good. Our communities thrive and women are supported.
If YOU are in Lisbon this Saturday from 3-6PM, then join us for the Graca Clothing Swap & Shop. A free community event for women, by women, and in support of Portugal. Sign Up Here!
And if you want to contribute from far away then feel free to donate via Venmo @brytta-moreira. All donations will provide snacks and drinks for the women at our event.
Use your voice, Reader, because when we speak up, it invites the rest of us to use our voices in solidarity so that real change can happen.
Love you big! Love you bright!
PS- If you live in Portugal and want to share and support local community events, join my Whatsapp Group: A Place For The Rest Of Us.
