Notice: The CJM will be closed on Thursday, May 9 for a private event.
Michelle Robinson

adultsaccessworkshops

Access-Centered Yoga

Sunday, Feb 11, 2018 • 1–2pm

ADMISSION: Free with advance registration, includes free admission to The Museum

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2018-02-11 13:00:00 UTC2018-02-11 14:00:00 UTC America/Los_AngelesThe CJM - 736 Mission St, San Francisco, CAAccess-Centered Yoga Join us for a new series of access-centered yoga taught by Jess Dene Schlesinger where all bodies, minds, and variations are valued. Each class will offer gentle movement with safe alignment, connection to the elements, and mindful awareness of our “felt-sense” throughout a sequence. Many variations for movements will be provided if the ones given do not work for your body or mind. 

Join us for a new series of access-centered yoga taught by Jess Dene Schlesinger where all bodies, minds, and variations are valued. Each class will offer gentle movement with safe alignment, connection to the elements, and mindful awareness of our “felt-sense” throughout a sequence. Many variations for movements will be provided if the ones given do not work for your body or mind.

[Image description: graphic of 7 triangles of various sizes, some upright and others are inverted, against a light mint green background. Inside of each of the triangles appears a pink cosmos with stars, constellations, like a cloud of gas and dust in outer space in the night sky. The largest central triangle has a bright pink luminous matter against a dark silhouette of the night sky. It appears like the cosmos was broken up into different prisms, so each triangle reflects a piece of the larger image of outer space cosmos.]

About Access-Centered Movement

In Jess Dene Schlesinger’s words:

Access–Centered movement combines trauma-informed language (adapted from the Niroga Institute), a disability justice framework (a movement founded by disabled queer people of color), and my lived experience as a person with disabilities. The term 'Access-Centered' was given to me by a disability justice activist to title my yoga classes and means that accessibility is a focal element and not a state of being. Because access is a constant process, shifting and transforming in each space and with each individual, describing something generally as 'accessible' seems inherently flawed, as universal accessibility is a goal that is never achieved.

The term is also being used because, in the Bay Area, it has become trendy to claim that a movement class is for 'all bodies' or 'accessible'—unfortunately, making these terms seem like jargon words. It is hard, as a disabled person, to see these taglines and take them seriously.

To me, access-centered seems radical, substantial, and based in disability justice. It prioritizes access for all bodies and minds and offers cultural humility when needs are not met. In my yoga and meditation classes, I center accessibility through physical space, variations offered, language, and intersectionality and attempt to value all bodies, minds, and difference of movement without hierarchy.

Learn More
accessibility

The CJM is fully wheelchair accessible and offers a friendly environment for service animals. Please note that we would like to maintain this as a scent-free class in respect to those with chemical sensitivities. To request an ASL interpreter, please email access@thecjm.org at least 2 weeks in advance. A select amount of free mats will be provided, but please bring a mat if you have one available. 

about the TEACHER
Jess Dene Schlesinger

Jess Dene Schlesinger is a white/Jewish queer disabled femme teacher, healer, and social justice activist. She began practicing yoga 16 years ago in an attempt to manage the physical and emotional pain resulting from various disabilities and traumas. She found, however, that most yoga classes she attended were not accessible for her needs. Jess continued to practice yoga on her own and explored various spiritual, psychological, and physical tools for healing personal and sociological trauma. She created Access-Centered Movement by combining trauma informed language, Disability Justice (a movement started by disabled queer people of color), and her lived experience as a sick and disabled queer. Jess is deeply grateful to the ancestors of these spiritual traditions. To learn more, visit accesscenteredmovement.wordpress.com

supporters

Access Programs are made possible by major support from Wells Fargo Foundation. Additional generous support is provided by the Toole Family Charitable Foundation and The Morse Family Foundation.