BLACK GIRL YOGA CLUB
Donation based yoga for black women, femmes, & non- binary individuals.
Black Girl Yoga Club by BGFC is a haven, crafted for black women, femmes, and non-binary individuals seeking a yoga sanctuary led by instructors who can understand their experiences. Our emphasis on mindfulness, meditation, spirituality, and holistic wellness fosters a strong, healing community. Together, we gather regularly to treasure the significance of these elements in our lives, creating a space where healing unfolds collectively.
Meet the INSTRUCTORS
Ariana Simone (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based Model and Yoga Instructor. She has been teaching online community classes and in-person classes in collaboration with brands and outdoor recreation organizations. She was recently hired to teach in-person and on-demand classes at Body Craft Dance and Yoga studio in Cobble Hill.
After completing a mentorship program with Sky Ting Yoga Studio, Ariana is most confident in her abilities to offer a strong vinyasa flow for all levels whilst weaving in dharma, pranayama, and some Katonah teachings to strengthen the mind-body connection.
Ariana is a triple water sign, making her a dreamer, a creative, and most importantly a lover. She hopes to provide a healing space for her students to be coddled when they need to be or feel empowered walking out of the studio. Her favorite musicians span from Sampha and Jordan Ward to both Young Thug (free Jeffery) and Young Nudy.
ARIANA SIMONE
Ava Marshall (she/her, 200 HR) is a 22-year-old yoga instructor from Houston, Texas. Based in New York City, Ava decided to become a yoga instructor because she wanted to make yoga accessible to everyone, and input elements of radical care, restoration, and resistance into yoga instructing. In her 200-hour yoga training, she learned so much surrounding the importance of leading with passion and kindness as a focus rather than just discipline or athleticism. This has activated her goals as an instructor by being the infrastructure in which the work she hopes to do as an instructor, sits.
Ava’s journey as a yoga instructor has been deeply rooted in not only the physical aspects but also the profound wisdom and historical context of yoga. Understanding the rich history and philosophical underpinnings of yoga has allowed her to impart a comprehensive understanding to her students, enabling them to embrace the practice beyond its physicality.
She believes that yoga is not confined to the boundaries of a mat; it extends into our daily lives. Encouraging students to embody yoga off the mat, and fostering mindfulness, compassion, and self-awareness, is an integral part of her teaching philosophy. Ava is committed to instilling these principles in our community, empowering individuals to live more balanced, mindful, and fulfilling lives.
Off the mat, Ava is a recent graduate of NYU Gallatin, where she focused on art as a means of liberation for black women, and as a poet, writer, and creative, she is currently pursuing her MFA. She is a Leo who loves to listen to music, hang out with friends, and read Edwidge Danticat, Lucille Clifton, and Gwendolyn Brooks. She is currently embracing “Moksha”, meaning “Liberation” in Sanskrit, by learning to remove limiting beliefs from my practice and life.”
AVA MARSHALL