A New Year Intention: Making Yoga More Inclusive

The New Year invites reflection, renewal, and intention-setting—both on and off the mat. For yoga teachers and studio owners, it’s a powerful moment to ask an important question: Who feels welcome in my classes, and who might feel left out?

Setting an intention to be more inclusive in yoga isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about recognizing that yoga, at its heart, is meant for every body. Yet many people—people who have a disability, older adults, people in larger bodies, beginners, those with trauma, or those who don’t see themselves represented in yoga culture—often feel that yoga spaces weren’t designed with them in mind.

Inclusivity matters because yoga is not just a physical practice; it’s a practice of connection, compassion, and liberation. When classes only work for a narrow definition of “able” or “experienced,” we unintentionally reinforce the very barriers that yoga is meant to dissolve.

An inclusive approach invites choice, adaptation, and curiosity rather than performance or perfection.

For teachers, this can look like offering variations without hierarchy, using language that doesn’t assume everyone’s abilities or goals, and welcoming rest as a valid and powerful practice.

For studio owners, it may mean examining physical accessibility, pricing structures, representation in marketing, and the overall culture of the space.

The New Year isn’t about adding more pressure—it’s about aligning our values with our actions. Choosing inclusivity as an intention helps ensure that yoga remains what it was always meant to be: a practice of belonging.

When more people feel safe, seen, and supported in our spaces, the entire community benefits.