‘Inclusivity’ has become a buzzword; a ‘gold star sticker’ to broadcast something others want to hear. Fuck that version of ‘inclusivity’, I really believe this word can still hold a lot of meaning, so long as action backs it up.  We live in a society that is built on systemic oppression so it’s impossible for anyone to be completely inclusive. All we can do is our best, and keep learning to do better.  When I say ‘as inclusive as possible’ I mean: throwing out, and unpacking diet-culture, anti-fat bias and weight-loss talk.  It means actively unlearning our inner anti-fat bias, and all implicit biases that relate to race, sexuality, gender, and ability and more.  Avoiding gendered language, asking for pronouns, and not making assumptions about sexual or gender identity.   We are committed to learning how to be anti-racist, demanding land back, demanding a ceasefire, acknowledging privilege and learning from voices who have first hand experience. (ex: learning how to be anti-racist from Black and Indigenous voices) We aren’t free until we are all free. No spiritual bypassing, body shaming, or discriminatory language is allowed here. We are a queer, non-binary, woman led space. Check out Move with Billie Anti-Harassment Policies & Code of Ethics below.

I don’t want to be yet another yoga studio claiming to be a safe space with a rainbow sticker on the window, without actually doing any work to back that up. I’ve been harmed in too many of these situations, and I got fed up enough that I decided to make my own space.  I want my actions to speak louder than words, and in order to do this I’m committed to continuing my education, looking inward at my own implicit bias and doing my own damn work so that I can keep learning how to do better.  I have been officially Rainbow Registered since March 2024, have completed several trainings on trauma informed teaching and teaching inclusively. I ask for feedback on a regular basis, and practice actively listening in response to feedback.   I don’t care about the stamp of approval, I care about the impact that my actions have on the people around me.

I’m here to lead by example, so I’ll be the first to admit living & leading rebelliously didn’t come easy at first.  Being a survivor of childhood abuse & trauma, it took practice to learn to use my voice in a big and bold way. (it’s a continuing practice) Leading rebelliously started off with little, bold steps with my hands shaking, and has grown to be bigger, bolder shit.  Like being actively involved in social justice, and using my voice to raise awareness about the impact of diet-culture and spiritual bypassing, and LGBTQIA rights.  It would be easy to be silent about global issues to make privileged people more comfortable; or to make a quick buck by promoting yet another ‘yoga for weight-loss’ program.  I refuse to sacrifice my heart, or my soul for profit. I would rather swim upstream in both my marketing, as well as my approach because it means that you leave feeling safe with me, and in your body.  All my years of practice have only shown me how important it is that we use our voices to stand up against oppression, and how much our words matter.

Exploiting pain points, ‘weaknesses’, and difficult feelings in order to manipulate you into purchasing from me or working with me feels predatory and icky and I just won’t do it. Mainstream marketing be damned, I value transparency, openness and honesty.  I believe that they’re a valuable part of creating sustainable change, plus they’re way less icky. One example is that speaking openly about mental illness can help reduce stigma, increase awareness, and empathy.  Which is why I’m honest about where I’ve come from, what I‘ve gone through and what helped me get through it: I know the difference being seen makes.  I don’t want to give you some fake, highlight reel of who I am, and guilt you into working with me because I appear to have my shit together.  Being transparent, open and honest means you get to see who I am, what I love and am about and then decide if you think we’ll vibe.  I want you to work with me because I help you feel seen, because you see me and love what I’m all about, or maybe even because on occasion, I’ll sing at the end of class.

You’ve grown up in a society that has repeatedly listed your ‘flaws’ and taught you that you’re not enough.  My friend, they taught you this to make money off you, the global weight-loss industry was worth 254.9$ Billion in 2021 and that’s bullshit. They’ve made enough off making you feel small, and feeling like you need to BE small. You deserve better. You’ve always been enough; and I’m here to remind you that in as many ways as I possibly can. Starting with cheerleading all your wins, whether it’s getting out of bed, standing up to a mean co-worker, or finally nailing your pancake recipe.

I’ve been through a lot, and for a long time that meant I was forced to take life too seriously.  Healing can be pretty difficult and serious sometimes, but it’s important to let the light in every once and a while too.  Movement is often marketed as a punishment, a way to earn value, and I hate that.  Movement can be functional, and it can also be really fucking fun.  It can help you feel safe and at home in your body, and it can be freeing and joyful too.