My Anti-Oppression Practices

The white wellness industry is notoriously toxic for people of color, queer people, those with intersectional identities, disabilities or thick bodies, and anyone else that doesn’t fit into cis, white, heteronormative spaces, or wishes to disrupt them. In those spaces, so intent on “love and light” at the expense of justice, our voices are routinely silenced, diminished, tokenized, disqualified and placed on the outskirts of conversation. That’s why all my work and business practices center anti-oppression practices and accountability, irrespective of the identity of the person working with me.

Here, I detail how some of those practices look in our coaching relationship, in my business practices, in my work/offerings, and in my work in the world.

  • Making brave space: As a multiply-marginalized person myself, I recognize that it’s paramount that we be able to bring all the aspects of our lived identities into spaces where we hope to evolve - but rarely do we find places where this kind of vulnerability feels possible. Brave space begins with my ongoing acknowledgment that oppression is real, and complex, and insidious, but also not all that you are. You’re a glorious, multi-dimensional, full person. So when it comes to addressing oppression, we’ll look for a constant balance between validating your lived experiences, and disrupting the places where you have started to internalize these messages.

    Repairing mistakes: I’m deeply aware of my own lenses, and the hazards of both unconscious bias and assumptions. My experiences are not yours - even if we check similar identity boxes - and part of stepping into brave spaces together means there’s a possibility of me saying or doing something that bothers you. In these moments, it’s imperative that I move quickly through such a rupture to enact repairs. I know how to hold myself accountable, and can typically repair mistakes in a way that deepens our trust. This is something we will discuss openly together.

  • Resource sharing: You’ll see that my pricing includes tiered rates for accessibility and wealth-sharing, as well as radical-sliding scale spots for BIPOC and queer clients who could not otherwise afford to work with me. In addition, I create free offerings and workshops for our communities. My relationship to my own pricing is a central aspect of promoting resource-sharing through my business practices.

    Reparations and Mutual Aid: I am the daughter of Indian immigrants, living on the occupied lands of the Salish and Kalispel people, on whose lands I am (at best) a guest. A percentage of my monthly profits go to Indigenous-led organizations like Snqweylmistn and Indigenous-led BIPOC mutual aid efforts local to the city in which I live.

    I also make recurring monthly donations to Trans Lifeline.

    It is my hope to some day have the resources to contribute meaningfully to the land back movement.

  • If you’re connected with me on social media, you’ll be familiar with my writing and speaking about topics related to oppression and liberation. This work invites people connected to me into inward reflection, learning and accountability.