By Contribution

Animism, Ancestors, and Yoga

with Gita Thandika and Minerva Arias

Tuesday, August 27
90 min each | 12:00 LA | 3pm New York | 21:00 Berlin
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Our Invitation

This final gathering in our five-part series, “Animism, Ancestors, and…” will focus on yoga traditions as an increasingly popular South Asian branch of ancestral and Earth wisdom. Yoga will be explored as a body of teachings and practices that can nurture Earth and body reconnection, psychological wellness, and the long-term work of ending systemic oppression.

Amidst the catastrophe of our times, the Earth still sings through and around us with ancient wisdom and magic. This innate belonging and joy is fundamentally good and also our nature as human beings. In this series, we’ll ask how animist ethics—respect and love for our greater web of kinship—can help us to navigate accelerated Earth changes and bring fresh perspective and energy to the traditions that already nourish our path.

This event will be hosted by Gita Thandika with the Ancestral Medicine Practitioner Network and esteemed guest Minerva Arias. Thandika has been a yoga teacher for over 20 years in the essential teachings of yoga philosophy and practice from the Sivananda lineage. Minerva is a mother, Oya priestess in the tradition of Ifa, yoga teacher for over a decade, author, creative and griot. See below for more on their work in the world.

We’ll explore topics like:

How can animist ethics and ancestor reverence help to anchor yogic practices in both respect for South Asian roots and our diverse lands?
In what ways can yogic traditions help to interrupt different body-based supremacies (racism, ableism, harmful beauty standards, etc)?
What can Earth-connected, culturally mindful yogic traditions bring to the work of cultural healing, ecological repair, and collective liberation?

Our time will include:

Our time will be held in a kind and culturally inclusive spirit for participants of all backgrounds. Those new to the material as well as seasoned herbalists are likely to find something of benefit.

This event is part of a larger series that includes four other teachings on Animism, Ancestors and…Astrology, Activism, Psychedelics, and Yoga. This series also serves to highlight two of our foundational courses, Ancestral Lineage Healing and Practical Animism. Thousands have taken these courses since 2017 and have gone on to take the teachings into their practices, professions, families, and activism.

Price

Accessibility is a core value at Ancestral Medicine. We offer several pricing tiers, and we leave it to you to select the most appropriate tier. The ranges in pricing aim to take into consideration global economic disparities, historical injustices, and personal circumstances. The system is designed for those with more to register in ways that support those with less.

If $20 is not accessible, please answer a few questions before registering at any amount. There is no approval process; we simply wish to understand who our offerings are reaching and how to make the most of our services. Click here to proceed.

Others in the Series

There is no “nature” or completely external reality. To deeply know and care for these bodies is also to care for the Earth and the many beings.

About the Presenters

Minerva Arias

Minerva Arias PhDc, Iya Oyaladé is a mother, priestess, author, creative and griot. Her explorations of the psychology of yoga, the philosophy of meditation and the science of Ayurveda combined with her experiences as a priestess in her ancestral practice of Ifa are the foundation for her work in guiding people to discover their innate healing capabilities, as well as, understanding joy, laughter and love as forms of resistance. You can find her teaching a Sacred Flow™ yoga class, offering Ayurvedic consultations, leading Sacred Ritual™ retreats and courses or holding space for people to become intimate with the inevitable grief and myriad ways death shows up in our lives as a pathway to living more fully.

Gita Thandika

Gita Thandika has been a Yoga Teacher since 2001 in the essential teachings of yoga philosophy and practice from the Sivananda lineage. Gita is also a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, Business Coach and Elder/Sundancer in the Lakota lineage of the Native American Church. Gita has trained in Ancestral Healing with Dr. Daniel Foor over the last two decades and is excited to guide others in this work that has been so empowering in her own healing journey. Raised in apartheid South Africa to a Zulu mother and Tamil father has instilled in her a strong sense of social justice and respect for cultural diversity. This spirit of reverence for resilience and creativity informs her approach to ritual, ceremony, and ancestral healing. Learn More