About Zia Yoga
"Zia" (pronounced zee-ah) is an ancient word meaning light and splendor.
She is also the namesake of a special soul who reminds us to acknowledge the light and wisdom within all living things.
Zia Yoga & Wellness' Community Agreements outline how we commit to being in community with each other. They will be expanded and updated as we continue to learn and grow.
Welcoming Community.
Zia Yoga & Wellness is a diverse community made up of beginners, experienced students, and every body in between.
Be present. Be kind.
Practice being fully present to your body and everyone in our space. We invite you to hold a brave space and listen with compassion for yourself and others. Adhere to ahimsa - the yogic practice of doing no harm. Bullying, talking down to others, harassment, and hate speech will not be tolerated.
Trust your needs.
We have no idea how something feels in your body. Be mindful of physical sensations and navigate your edge with curiosity. Distinguish discomfort from feeling unsafe. Let your teacher know if something feels painful. Advocate for what you need and remember, you are your best teacher.
Honor the lineage of yoga.
Yoga has been ever-evolving on our earth for thousands of years. At Zia, we study and approach the historical roots of Yoga and Ayurveda as well as our individual ancestral lineages with great humility, respect, and reverence. Together we can continue to define yoga as the power to create space for healing and a path for collective liberation.
Your pace. Your practice.
Shame and competition are not a part of yoga. Yoga is a spiritual practice of uniting within ourselves and each other for liberation and connection with our innate wholeness.
Empowerment from within.
We believe empowerment is simple. It comes down to having the freedom and right to choose. It is having agency to make choice and have options in life. You can choose to go down one path or another. You are in charge of you. Here at Zia, we lead in a way that encourages you to advocate for yourself; to reach inside your soul and find your inner strength.
Antiracism & Anti-Oppression.
We are committed to doing our part to dismantle racism and oppression in the wellness world. For too long, wellness has been restricted to thin people with light skin. We are working to change this through: antiracism and anti-oppression education for staff, actively seeking out BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients and vendors, building an inclusive atmosphere, and supporting antiracist and anti-oppression causes financially. We know we won’t do it perfectly, but we are committed to this work. If you have questions or feedback - our door is always open.
Land Acknowledgement.
We gather at Zia Yoga & Wellness on the unceded land of the Lenni-Lenape peoples past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it through generations and call us to continue to learn how to steward the land we inhabit as well.
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Justice & Equity Statement.
Capitalism, colonialism, racism, patriarchy, heteronormativity, ableism, and hierarchy create systemic imbalances for underestimated people in our world and continue to have devastating impacts that greatly limit the potential of all humans and our world. We offer diverse pricing structures as a bridge toward the world that we want to see where wellness, yoga, and healing tools are available to all. With partial scholarships for monthly specialty programs, memberships, and other programming, we practice a form of equalization and wealth distribution so those who do not historically have access can move through this small action towards redistribution of resources.
At Zia Yoga & Wellness, we will always be in the iteration of more equitable and radical means of creating change so that we can activate the values shared above, honor yoga’s roots, and create equity for all.
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Questions or comments? Please contact us at info@ziayogawellness.com
Updated November 2024
Join the Circle
"Zia" (zee-ah) is an ancient word meaning light and splendor.
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At Zia, we practice in a mandala (Sanskrit word for circle) and like a circle, a mandala has no beginning, no end. It is inclusive, it grows and expands. It condenses and encircles; it exists for each of us. By practicing in this shape, we create an experience of community, of oneness, of connection to each other and to the practice of yoga.
