A Weekend of Celebration and Community
Join J Miles of Project Yoga Richmond, Ashley Williams from BareSOUL Yoga, Shanna Latia of Sacred Vibes Yoga and Dr. Ram Bhagat of Drums No Guns in partnership with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and Happily Natural Day, for a Juneteenth weekend of events celebrating the life, liberation and the legacy of enslaved people.
Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day or Freedom Day, is the oldest national holiday that commemorates the end of chattel slavery in the US. While this is a major milestone to be celebrated, racism is still woven into the fabric of our country’s systems today. To liberate ourselves from systemic racism and heal from generational trauma, we must come together as a community and take our collective healing into our own hands.
Both events will open with a land acknowledgement and move into healing practices of movement, breathwork and somatic exercises to honor our Ancestors and recognize the self-determination of Black people. We will center our Collective healing through movement, breath, sound, and holistic practices curated to help us understand how to hold loving, caring space for ourselves and each other beyond this shared time and space.
This is a fundraising event to support the mission of Project Yoga Richmond and to amplify collective unity. All are welcome.
This event is sponsored by Maha Vira Yoga. Registration is required. See below for registration details.
Saturday, June 17 :: 9AM - 11AM :: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Saturday’s event will start off with a welcome speech by J Miles, followed by an Invocation of Space by Dr. Ram Bhagat, flowing into an all-levels Asana practice led by Project Yoga Richmond and BareSOUL Yoga, and closed off with a singing bowl ceremony by Sacred Vibes Yoga.
Registration includes garden access for the day, featuring the epic new installation Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture.
Please arrive between 9-9:15AM, bring your yoga mat and celebratory spirit, and stick around to enjoy the gardens after the event!
sunday, june 18 :: 9am - 11am :: sankofa community orchard
Sunday’s celebration will be surrounded by nature in the oasis that is Sankofa Community Orchard.
The gathering will commence at 9:30AM with an opening by Duron Chavis, followed by an all-levels Asana practice led by BareSOUL Yoga, and closed off once again with a singing bowl ceremony by Sacred Vibes Yoga.
Afterwards, enjoy a beautiful farmer’s market with fresh produce from the land, arts and crafts, drumming, dancing and more! So bring your yoga mat or a blanket, some water, and an open heart for this community celebration.
Each event must be registered for separately.
We offer 3 levels of community pricing so you can register at the amount you’re able to pay. Thank you for your contribution.
We look forward to this healing celebration with you!
If you are in need of support, please use the Contributor link above and use code JUNETEENTH to attend at no cost.
Do you have the means and desire to support those in our community who wish to attend this event for free? Consider registering at the Sponsor level! Your contribution is greatly appreciated and will create space for the presence and healing of those who need the additional support at this time.
Our Event Collaborators
Maha Vira Yoga
Created by J Miles, Maha Vira Yoga is the powerhouse behind Project Yoga Richmond and has been an integral part of serving and bringing together the Richmond community through Yoga Teacher Trainings, Mindfulness and Leadership Workshops, weekly donation-based yoga classes, Thai Yoga Bodywork, and community wellness events. Participating in any of Maha Vira’s offerings is like joining an extended family that holds space for you with compassion as you heal and grow.
To stay up to date on Project Yoga Richmond’s rebirth, follow us on Instagram!
BareSOUL Yoga
BareSOUL Yoga is rooted in love, self care, and connection and utilizes the practices of yoga to create space for healing that centers humanity and welcomes the whole community. Their offerings are constantly growing and adapting to meet the wellness needs of our community, from weekly yoga classes at The Well Collective and throughout Richmond parks and markets; to Community Wellness Nights at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School; to fellowships for mindful community leadership. Founded by Ashley Williams and sustained by a diverse team of wellness practitioners, BareSOUL meets community members where they’re at to make wellness accessible.
Sacred Vibes Yoga
Created by Shanna Thornton, Sacred Vibes offers full spectrum wellness services including yoga, sound healing, reiki and energy bodywork. You can find her working her magic throughout Richmond at parks, community gardens, wellness studios, and even floating with a community of paddleboarders on the James river during the summer. With the aid of singing bowls, gongs and chimes, Shanna creates unique healing vibrations that help individuals release stress and connect with themselves on a deeper level. Her services are a powerful healing resource for all who seek inner-peace.
Drums No Guns Foundation
Drums No Guns was co-founded over two decades ago by Dr. Ram Bhagat to memorialize the life of his brother, Lester Michael Gooding, who died from gun violence. On behalf of the foundation, Ram integrates yoga, mindfulness, drumming, dance, drama, trauma healing, and peacemaking circles to promote nonviolence (ahimsa) in school and community settings across the nation. The foundation is currently collaborating with the Richmond Peace Education Center to provide conflict resolution training for middle, high school, and university students; racial justice and community-based trauma healing training for youth; an annual Generation Dream Edu-Concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and a regional youth summit for peace activists, advocates and allies.
Happily Natural Day
Happily Natural Day, a community organization led by Duron Chavis, believes that black and brown people can own and control the food system in their communities. They promote food justice through their community gardens around Richmond (Sankofa Community Orchard, Broadrock Community Garden, McDonough Community Garden among 5 others) and through their annual Afrikan summer festival dedicated to holistic health, cultural awareness & social change.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
With over 50 acres of beautiful gardens, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden connects people through plants to improve communities. The Garden actively participates in urban greening and sustainable water management; contributes to economic development and workforce training; and educates youth and adult audiences about critical issues related to the interdependence of plants and people. They also grow fresh produce through their Kroger Community Kitchen Garden, which is delivered to Feed More Inc‘s Meals on Wheels and Kids Café, serving Central Virginia’s most vulnerable populations.
