For the past few years, the participation of Black people in yoga nationwide has been steadily rising.
Data from the National Health Interview Survey indicates that the percentage of Black adults practicing yoga grew from roughly 9% to upwards of 15% leading into the mid-2020s. According to local yoga instructors, that same dynamic is happening in Houston.
The growth accelerated post-2020. Lockdowns prompted many Black instructors to launch digital platforms—such as YouTube and Instagram—which vastly expanded accessibility and introduced the practice to new audiences of Black men, women, and children.
“One of the things I love most is that so many people used to think that yoga wasn’t for them… And this opportunity they have is a chance that really is accessible to everyone.”
Alicia Dugar Stephenson
Overcoming disparities, systemic stress
And there’s still much room for growth. As yoga and mindfulness practices gain popularity in the U.S., there continue to be obvious disparities between the racial demographics of practitioners.
But over the past few years, local Black yoga instructors like Jill Minard, Marlon Hall, and Aisha Shahid have guided a growing number of Black Houstonians to recognize yoga as a low-maintenance practice to help maximize community health and personal well-being.
Another one of those game-changing local Black yoga instructors helping to accelerate participation in yoga is Alicia Dugar Stephenson. Every Wednesday, starting at 6:30 p.m., Stephenson leads what some are describing as an explosion of participation in the ancient practice at Discovery Green.
“One of the things I love most is that so many people used to think that yoga wasn’t for them,” Stephenson shared. “Either because of some story that they’ve been told or because of some barrier, financial or otherwise. And this opportunity they have is a chance that really is accessible to everyone… We have hundreds of people.”
A vibe made for HTown
Stephenson designs her outdoor class to feel like a community celebration, featuring a custom instrumental hip-hop playlist and a plant giveaway from her own backyard orchard.
“I always wanted it to be one of those ‘Things to do in Houston,'” Stephenson explained. “It’s been such a delight to host the real happy hour. The happy hour you don’t need to have a hangover from. The happy hour that’s in the center of Houston, and all you have to do is show up, and you get to tap into yourself.”
Her work has drawn immense support from her family. Her mother, Tori Cofield, regularly attends the classes, and her “bonus” dad, Dr. D.Z. Cofield has encouraged her to bring yoga into religious spaces with a program she calls “Faith and Flow.”
“We are incredibly proud of our bonus daughter and her mission to promote peace by teaching yoga while sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ,” said Tori Cofield. “Her unique and authentic ability to encourage others to love themselves and extend that love to those around them has touched countless lives. She has been a blessing to so many.
“And seeing the overwhelming turnout at Discovery Green comes as no surprise to us. We are excited to watch her continue to grow in her purpose and look forward to all that God has in store for her in the future.”
Healing beyond diagnosis
Stephenson’s passion comes from a deeply personal place. In 2009, she received a Lupus diagnosis that severely affected her joints, sometimes leaving her unable to walk or see.
“Yoga changed my life,” Stephenson said. “For me, it was the way that I transitioned off of the eight prescribed pills that I was taking… I remember having a rock-bottom moment, and just staring up in darkness and making an agreement with God, that if I survived, I would tell other people how I did it.”
Through yoga, she learned to connect with her body and manage her response to stress. Now, she uses her platform to give others permission to do the same, incorporating research-based practices such as the Harvard study that found that positive body self-talk physically reduces bodily inflammation.
Breaking the stigma
Despite the benefits, Stephenson has faced pushback from critics who claim the practice contradicts religious beliefs or that “Black people don’t do yoga.” She remembers feeling that initial fear herself during her very first yoga class.
“Every time we brought our hands together, I would pray, ‘God, please protect me. Don’t let any evil spirits inhabit me,'” Stephenson recalled. “That’s something that I feel is so wild. When literally something that they call spirits [alcohol], you partake in, but something that allows you to connect to the body God has given you… How could this be demonized?”
Stephenson sees the skepticism as motivation to keep showing up and providing confirmation that yoga is a safe space for healing.
World peace through inner peace
A Rice University alumna who studied international relations, Stephenson seeks to expand her impact beyond Discovery Green, using yoga as a vehicle for global peace.
“Literally, how can you create peace if you don’t have peace on the inside?” she asked. “Peaceful people spread peace to people. Healed people help heal people… It has to start from within.”
Looking ahead, Stephenson is preparing for a TED Talk to be recorded live this summer, where she will share her framework linking individual wellness to global harmony. Starting June 14, she is giving herself 2,000 days to win an international peace prize.
Because she primarily teaches undergraduate students at Rice University, the Wednesday evening sessions at Discovery Green remain the public’s primary opportunity to experience her classes for free.
“I am on a mission to spread world peace through inner peace,” Stephenson declared.
