I am DuShaun Branch Pollard
A mother, wife, educator, yoga instructor, restorative justice advocate and disrupter.
THE COLLECTIVE
col·lec·tive | \ kə-ˈlek-tiv
noun: A cooperative enterprise
A community of yogis, activists, creators, healers and those who want to be healed. I believe that we live in a world that needs more spaces for rest. More spaces that are accessible and safe for black and brown people, LGBTQ+, youth, plus size, differently abled and anyone that has ever been “othered”.
As a practicing yogi, I was always the only black and plus sized person in a yoga class. After leaving feeling relaxed I knew I wanted to teach - to bring this to more communities of color. To more people who looked like me. To those who I did not see in these spaces.
After a 10 year journey, I am finally building the brand I have always wanted and creating a space for those who have historically been left out of the yoga space.
A space for those who are tired from trauma, systemic racism, the weight of the world, work and more.
A space that will center equity and justice and will focus on the liberation of black and brown women.
A collective.
"It is great to express yourself and understand when you are strong and when you are weak; DuShaun taught us how you can depend on others to help when you are not feeling strong. "
/ Class Participant /
Experience
DuShaun has been practicing for almost 13 years and fell in love with yoga because it allowed her to find peace of mind while moving her body. As a yoga student, DuShaun noticed that in the majority of her classes she was the only black and plus sized person in the room. This inspired her to become a practitioner to bring yoga to more people who looked like her.
“DuShaun is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) through the Yoga Alliance and was certified through Bloom Yoga Studio in June of 2020. In addition, she received her 95-hour Children’s Yoga Certification from Mission Propelle in the summer of 2018.
DuShaun previously worked in higher education and a community organizer in North Lawndale, a community on the west side of Chicago. Because of her former work, DuShaun is focused on bringing yoga to youth, activists, and organizers. She believes people not only need rest and relaxation, but resistance; yoga is a powerful way to tap into the balance of ease and positive effort. DuShaun teaches through the lens of equity and trauma-informed, hosting classes in “non-traditional” settings all over the city. She intends on taking down as many barriers as possible to bring yoga to those who are looking for calm and relaxed minds. DuShaun truly believes yoga is for all, and shares that throughout Chicago and beyond.
After school matters: Hip hop yoga
2018 – 2019
Oak park equity team: summer yoga instructor
summer 2019
Youth Alliance Yoga - Teacher Trainer (Cultural competency)
Present
Bloom Yoga Studio-teacher trainer (cultural competency)
Present
Forest Park Public Librar. Present
garfield park conservatory yoga instructor Present
Oak park Public Library (Weekly chair yoga + Meditation)
Present
South holland Public library
2021 -2022
"
DuShaun helped our group through her yoga class, by touching on some really important ideas and sharing them in a very safe and supportive way, while teaching us new ways to move and deal with stress: It's great to feel strong, and it's OK to feel not so strong. It is good to talk about how you are feeling. You can rely on your friends to help you..
/ Satisfied client /
"
It was a nice balance of making us feel comfortable yet connected
/ Satisfied client /
“My virtual team hired DuShaun at Sage Gawd Collective to lead us in Corporate Chair Yoga, and we cannot speak highly enough of our experience. DuShaun's expert facilitation created space for us to truly slow down, as she led us through a series of gentle movements and meditations.”
/ Corporate Yoga Client /
“Thank you for providing this practice.
It is a salve for my soul. I don’t know why, but tears just needed to come out on my exhales today. Feeling a bit cleansed”
