Yoga is Political: Donna Noble on Inclusion and Collective Change

In this episode, I chat to 'Fearne Cotton's fave yoga teacher', Donna Noble. Donna's been a yoga teacher since 2011 and without realising has pioneered inclusivity and accessibility in the yoga space. Donna shares her journey into yoga, initially inspired by a friend's observation of Madonna's physique (!) and how it evolved into a central part of her life, especially after her experience with Bell's Palsy. We chat about our shared beginnings in Bikram, the challenges of inclusivity, and why Yoga is fundamentally a social justice practice at its core. Key Takeaways:Wellness should be defined individually, not by the wellness industry.Yoga is more than just physical fitness; it's about the mind-body connection and community.There's a need for greater diversity and inclusion in yoga spaces.Teachers have the power to disrupt and change the yoga landscape.Addressing socioeconomic disparities is crucial for making yoga accessible to both practitioners and teachers.Episode Highlights:00:03:40 Donna's experience with Bell's Palsy and how it influenced her yoga journey.00:07:20 Redefining wellness 00:11:40 The importance of listening to your body 00:19:55 The power of teachers to create change in the yoga community.00:25:50 Social justice in yoga00:30:30 Addressing the affluence gap among yoga teachers.About the Guest:Donna Noble is a yoga teacher and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the yoga and wellness space. She is the author of "Teaching Body Positive Yoga: A Guide to Creating Inclusive Classes" and is currently writing her second book, focused on demystifying yoga. Donna is committed to making yoga accessible to everyone and disrupting the yoga industry to be more inclusive.Website: https://thenobleartofyoga.co.uk/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/donnanobleyoga/⁠Episode Links:The Minded InstituteYoga UnionSusanna BarkatakiNorman BlairConnect with Megan:Instagram: ⁠@‌HigherLove_withMegan⁠Website: ⁠www.higher-love.com⁠This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review