Queering Yoga is a documentary about stories of personal transformation and healing through yoga in the Queer, Trans, and QTPOC communities through the lens of decolonizing yoga.
Synopsis
Queering Yoga tells the story of 6 Queer, Trans, and QTPOC yoga teachers and their personal stories of healing, transformation, and yoga journey. Themes explored include: What is the intersection of Queer, Trans, and QTPOC identities and yoga? What does empowered and embodied visibility look like for the Queer, Trans, and QTPOC communities? What does it mean to decolonize one’s yoga practice and why is this important?
Queering Yoga embraces an intersectional lens to explore identity, personal, and community transformation. The film positions Queer, Trans, and QTPOC yoga teachers as important voices and leaders in current day yoga conversations and spaces committed to ending racism, homophobia, transphobia, and embracing more inclusivity.
This film has been created with Queer, Trans, and QTPOC filmmakers and allies, along with Queer, Trans, and QTPOC yoga teachers–a film about our community and by the community!
Some Questions that Are Explored in Queering Yoga
What is the intersection of Queer/Trans/QTPOC identities and yoga?
How can yoga benefit the lives of Queer/Trans/QTPOC people?
What does empowered and embodied visibility look like for the Queer/Trans/QTPOC communities?
What does it mean to decolonize one’s yoga practice?
How It Began
I’ve been practicing yoga asana and meditation for many years and I identity as a Queer/Trans individual. Through these intersections of my identities, mindfulness, personal growth, and healing practices, the idea for Queering Yoga the documentary arose! I was inspired to make Queering Yoga when I didn’t see reflections of Queer/Trans/QTPOC voices and stories of personal growth and healing in relation to the yoga movement.
I feel it’s important for Queer/Trans/QTPOC individuals to have a practice to connect with themselves and with a welcoming and safe community that is rooted in healing, authenticity, self-love, personal growth, empowerment, and integration. Any oppressed individual and/or group needs that. I have a personal calling to share the stories of Queer/Trans/QTPOC yoga teachers and the intersection of their identities and yoga. We need examples of access, safe-space, healing, heart-centered space, representation, and community from empowered perspectives. Queering Yoga the documentary contributes to the current conversations of yoga communities in the West, how to decolonize one’s yoga practice, issues of race, homophobia, transphobia, and access to this healing practice.
As the Producer/Director of Queering Yoga, I’ve been actively working on the documentary with a wonderful team of Queer, Trans, and QTPOC crew members, allies, and participants since May 2015. It truly is a passion project!
The film is done and we would love for the world to see it! We are currently fundraising for distribution and exhibition expenses. Please contribute here if you are able: https://www.documentaries.org/queering-yoga/
All contributions are tax-deductible and go directly to Queering Yoga’s fiscal sponsor, The Center for Independent Documentary (CID).
About Producer/Director, Ewan Duarte
Ewan Duarte is a professional writer, artist, and award-winning filmmaker. Ewan holds his MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University. Ewan’s practiced and studied yoga asana and meditation for many years. His prior films Spiral Transition (2010) and Change Over Time (2013) have won awards and screened in more than 150 film festivals worldwide such as Frameline, BFI London LGBT Film Festival, DC Shorts Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Oslo LGBT Film Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Gender DocuFilm Festival in Roma, Hamburg International Queer Film Festival, Polari Film Festival in Austin, TX, and many more! His articles have been published in LILIPOH Magazine, Original Plumbing Magazine, IndieWIRE, The Huffington Post, FTM Magazine, Manifest: Transitional Wisdom On Male Privilege, and the Chelsea Station. You can check out his website here: www.ewanduarteproductions.com
You can view Ewan Duarte’s prior two films here:
Spiral Transition: https://vimeo.com/34146537
Change Over Time: https://vimeo.com/66785175
Queering Yoga Crew
Ewan Duarte. Director/Producer
Asher Jelinsky. Associate Producer
Avery Hudson. Director of Photography
Jes Gallegos. Director of Photography
Gwen Park. 1st A.C., Web Designer, and Videographer
Ericka Sokolower-Shain. 2nd A.C.
Gavin Murray. Gaffer
Alba Roland Mejia. Gaffer
Christine Dumke. Sound Recordist
Lauretta Molitor. Sound Recordist
Jonathan Wilson. Sound Recordist
Pablo Vivas. PA
Hannah S.P. PA
Sanji DeSilva. PA
Nika Finch. PA
Calvin Ferniza. Grip
Sasha Shvachko. Grip
Lanz Travers. Logo Designer, Graphic Designer
Hunter Rook. Graphic Designer
Robert Bechtel. Transcriber
David Mai. Assistant Editor
Kirthi Nath. Editor
Anne Carol Mitchell. Songwriter/Composer
Queering Yoga Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Lisa Mae & The Bhaktishop Yoga Center in Portland, Oregon
Seane Corn
Gold Sponsor
LuLulemon’s Here To Be program
https://info.lululemon.com/heretobe