Indigenous Representation and Inclusion in Yoga with Shayla Oulette Stonechild

Ashley is joined by Shayla Oulette Stonechild. Shayla is a Mètis and Nehiyaw Iskwew (Plains Cree Woman) from Muscowpetung First Nations and is a yoga instructor as well as founder and host of Matriarch Movement. She has always been a catalyst for Indigenous youth and women unlocking their full potential and reclaiming their voices and believes the arts, meditation, movement and reclaiming an Indigenous worldview all play a part in amplifying voices to bring upon much needed change. Matriarch Movement is a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting Indigenous voices and providing wellness workshops to BIPOC women across Canada.

Ashley and Shayla discuss her personal journey into yoga and the underrepresentation she saw in the community, her positive outlook and where she sees progress being made in the wellness and yoga space as well as where she still sees room for improvement, and ways to decolonize the practice of yoga. She also shares ways to avoid cultural appropriation, the importance of healing (and honoring) your own lineage and history, epigenetics and intergenerational trauma, why science and spirituality are so intersected, and so much more. 

Through her work, Shayla hopes to bring difficult, yet necessary Indigenous topics into mainstream conversations. From impacts of intergenerational trauma to suicide prevention, a cause she has a personal connection to as her father took his life when Shayla was just 16. Suicide is the leading cause of death in First Nations communities, and she's bringing stories to the light and using her platform for future sustainable change in society. 

Learn more:

Follow Shayla on Instagram: @shayla0h

Learn More about Shayla: https://www.shaylastonechild.com/

Learn more about Matriarch Movement: https://www.matriarchmovement.ca/

Listen to the Matriarch Movement podcast

Follow along on Instagram: @yogamagicpodcast and @ashleysondergaard.yoga

Learn more about Ashley and Yoga Magic at www.ashleysondergaard.com

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Work with Ashley:

Book a 1:1 Cosmic Self-Care Session with Ashley  | Learn how to use your astrological birth chart to personalize your self-care routines, rituals and practices. Use code ‘yogamagic’ to get $10 off a 1:1 session. 

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