http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/health/why-thi...

Welcome to Friday everyone....and meet Josetta Malcom who began teaching yoga eight years ago and has now decided to offer a class for a specific community, namely people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) in Brighton. She explains; "I teach private clients and at mainstream yoga studios but I've always had at least one LGBT or trans and queer class on the go. Because I'm a queer person and had previously worked as an LGBT mental health advocate for MindOut in Brighton, it was a natural fit for me and I've always been aware of the issues that some people have. There are increased rates of mental health problems amongst LGBTQ+ people, which means yoga is a very, very good thing for them to do. But at the same time, a lot of LGBTQ+ people just don't feel comfortable going to mainstream yoga studios."

The reasons for this discomfort can be complex and manifold. Yoga studios often have gendered changing rooms and toilets, for example, alongside the many body issues which can feel highlighted and judged within the yoga class itself. Josetta explains that, "because of this, being in a completely nonjudgemental space where there's no pressure to perform as any gender, where you can just be yourself, is extremely valuable".

Sometimes, it seems, we need to find our own 'safe' space as minority communities before we can join together and feel truly comfortable as a whole. In an ideal world we would not need separate classes since people identified as LGBTQ+ would not feel judged and misunderstood. Sadly, we do not seem to be there as a society yet; Josetta understands this and has taken an important bridging step.

Have a very lovely weekend everyone.