A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation

Description

Queer critique, queer practice: embodied teachings for healing from trauma and social injustice. Jacoby Ballard provides an empowering and affirming guide to embodied healing through yoga and the dharma, grounded in the brilliance, resilience, and lived experiences of queer folks. Part I deconstructs the ways mainstream yoga perpetuates queer- and transphobia and other systemic oppressions, exploring the intersections of yoga, capitalism, cultural appropriation, and sexual violence. Ballard also addresses the trauma—complex, vicarious, historical, and collective—perpetuated against queer communities. In response, he offers tools for self-compassion, tonglen, lovingkindness, and grounding, and helps readers explore questions like: • What is trauma? How is it a product of injustice—and how can healing it create justice? • The world won't stop being homo- and transphobic, so how do I encounter... Title Page Praise for A Queer Dharma Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction Part 1: Queer Dharma Acceptance and Letting Go Anger and Sustainability Working with Anger and Grief Discharging Anger’s Energy Relating to Harm Skillfully in Community Compassion: The Violence Stops with Me “Your Greatest Wound Is Your Greatest Gift” Freedom on the Inside Forgiveness: Releasing the Burden Forgiving One’s Self Letting Go of the Need to Be Right: Asking for Forgiveness Offering Forgiveness: A Vision of Healing Forgiveness toward the First Noble Truth A Tussle with Equanimity Social Justice and Equanimity Dream It, Build It, and Let Go The Eight Worldly Winds We Are Fabulous: An Invitation into Joy Joy in Queer Community We Are Neurologically Transformed by What We Practice Gratitude Oppression Masquerading as Gratitude Generosity Loving Ourselves Whole Metta, Privilege, and Oppression Loving Ourselves Warming the Heart by Loving Benefactors Expanding Circles of Care by Loving Neutral People Amid Intimacy and Conflict: Loving Loved Ones Doing the Deep Work: Loving Our Enemies Part 2: Queering Yoga Not Living Our Yoga, Just Selling It: Yoga and Capitalism Yoga Teachers Hold On by a Thread Yoga Teacher Trainings Yoga Stardom and the Cost of Yoga Retreats for the Wealthy Cultural Appropriation and Yoga The Hindu Right, Casteism, and Yoga Important Practices in Countering Cultural Appropriation Liberatory Models of Yoga and Buddhism Purpose and Practice Community-Led Direction/Community Impact Resistance/Struggles Love/Liberation Teaching Queer and Trans Yoga Queer and Trans Yoga and Trauma Queer Folks, Trauma, and Addiction Queer Resilience Tools in Teaching Queer and Trans Yoga Injustice Produces Trauma; Healing Creates Conditions for Justice Trauma as a Product of Injustice Healing Trauma, Creating Justice Accountability and Callout Culture Relationship and Fellowship What Does Your Heart Break Into? Conclusion: A Path from Here Ethics and Our Future Transcending the Two-Hundred-Hour Training Practicing with Critique Appendix A: Asana Sequences Sequence for Grounding Sequence for Fearlessness Tenderqueer: A Restorative Sequence Appendix B: Pranayama Practices Grounding Pranayama Practices Activating Pranayama Practices Endnotes Acceptance and Letting Go Anger and Sustainability Compassion: The Violence Stops with Me Forgiveness: Releasing the Burden A Tussle with Equanimity We Are Fabulous: An Invitation into Joy Loving Ourselves Whole Not Living Our Yoga, Just Selling It: Yoga and Capitalism Cultural Appropriation and Yoga Liberatory Models of Yoga and Buddhism Teaching Queer and Trans Yoga Injustice Produces Trauma; Healing Creates Conditions for Justice Conclusion: A Path from Here Appendix B: Pranayama Practices About the Author About North Atlantic Books