“Racial and ethnic wounds are highly charged and deeply emotional. Because of that we have to feel safe enough within ourselves and in relationship to other people to engage and remain in constructive discussions about race and ethnicity.

We have to be willing to be vulnerable and to feel safe in our vulnerability.

Creating safety in vulnerability starts with creating a safe and welcoming internal holding environment.

What that means is practicing self-acceptance and engaging in compassionate self-study, honoring the best in us with humility, and admitting our flaws without shame, blame, or criticism.

We learn safety in vulnerability first by cultivating a discipline of loving kindness toward ourselves.

This allows us to view ourselves with compassion for our errors, and to forgive ourselves for our mistakes.”

Gail Parker,
from Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma