In this episode, I had the honour of speaking with Rebeckah Price about the powerful work she has been leading for many years to reshape and decolonize wellness. She discusses what it actually means to create real systematic change in the health and wellness community for BIPOC and other marginalized communities, given the inherit inequities that exist in the wellness industrial complex. Rebeckah's deep commitment to liberation is truly inspiring and will move you, as it did me.
Two stand out quotes that summarize the wisdom Rebeckah shared:
"Any people that come from a history of resistance, the idea of liberation is fundamental to who you are."
"Wellness is an industrial complex because it's inherently telling you there's something wrong with you, that you're broken, and that's coming from a colonial mentality."
More about Rebeckah:
Rebeckah Price is a wellness advocate and yoga instructor (RYT 200), that draws on her wealth of knowledge of working in underserved, marginalized, racialized, and immigrant communities in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. In 2015, Rebeckah founded irise yoga + wellness- as a way to connect, promote, bring awareness to and foster the inclusion of people of colour and other historically marginalized groups in yoga and wellness spaces.
Rebeckah's work is rooted in an intersectional understanding of power and harnessing the tools and resources to facilitate community change. With over 20 years in the not-for-profit sector as a Community Development and Engagement Specialist, Rebeckah has worked on and developed strategies and policies related to diversity & inclusion, equity, conflict resolution, settlement and integration and creating safe, cohesive communities. Rebeckah uses her lived experience as a Woman of Colour and her unique expertise in community development and engagement to bridge and address the gap of diversity in the wellness industry through workshops, etc.
Support Rebeckah's work via her Patreon page or be sure to follow her on Instagram.
To learn more about her work, visit websites iRise Yoga and Wellness or at the Well Collective.