Barriers to Yoga for Black, Brown, and Indigenous Individuals in the United States

Yoga is a practice that has many benefits for physical and mental health. Unfortunately, yoga is underutilized in many marginalized communities, including the Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Fifteen yoga teachers who identify as being part of Black, Brown, or Indigenous communities were interviewed to explore the barriers to yoga for this population. Primary barriers included time, cost, access, religious ideas, physical presence, psychological safety, and feelings of not belonging. Each of these areas is discussed using the words of the participants in this study and comparing these areas to the information currently available in the literature. Potential solutions to resolve these barriers are included.