An Introduction to Your Indigenous Community of Practice + Wellness Session with Acosia Red Elk

Our first session on Tuesday, January 12, 2020, at 10 am PST, will be your opportunity to meet other Gathering Grounds Indigenous Community of Practice members and also participate in a wellness session led by Acosia Red Elk. Acosia will guide us through Powwow Yoga which is a fusion practice that combines Indigenous Powwow Dancing with Vinyasa Yoga for a five-dimensional workout incorporating cardio, strengthening and stretching, neural stimulation, breathwork, and meditation. Powwow Yoga bridges the gap between the group fitness and yoga worlds while adding grounding cultural elements.

About the Facilitator

Acosia Red Elk is an Enrolled Member of the Umatilla Reservation in Northeastern Oregon. She is a 10x World Champion Jingle Dancer, Indigenous Yoga Teacher and Facilitator. Acosia travels the world sharing cultural knowledge and movement, and is known for her unique style of dance, indigenous approach to yoga, public speaking and storytelling.

Finding the practice of yoga seven years ago has guided Acosia towards her natural role as a wellness leader, shown in her passion for sharing yoga with Native People. She seeks to spread awareness about the healing benefits of movement and the power of thought, and how these tools can be used daily to release toxic stress and reduce historical and bodily trauma held in the body. Acosia is the creator of Powwow Yoga, a movement practice that combines Indigenous Powwow Dancing with yoga, using the 7th Generation Principles to protect and ensure a future of healthy generations.

About Our Practice

The Seven Sacred Directions

Seven Directions was born from a desire to create greater connectivity across the many tribes, communities and organizations that have the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native people at the heart of what they do. We are guided by the “seven directions” of practice: Integration & Holistic Wellness, Culture & Identity, Families & Communities, Respect for Sovereignty, Service, Indigenous Knowledge, and Tribal Governance.

The Seven Sacred Directions serve as an indigenous framework for presenting the strategic directions for the public health agenda.

Glen Oaks, NY, USA - July 26, 2014: Two Native American female girl dancers at annual pow-wow at Queens County Farm Museum.