Chemi on the Mat

Chemi on the Mat Yoga saved me from burnout. Now I share the practice that helped me heal. “I finally reached the fork in the road, and I chose the path of authenticity.

I’m a yoga instructor blending movement, breath, and intention to help others reconnect—with their bodies, their peace, and their purpose on & off the mat. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I feel good!”- India Arie, 2007

Built by Black history. Grounded in breath. Guided by love. 🧡I don’t just teach yoga.I embody generations of resilience,...
02/13/2026

Built by Black history. Grounded in breath. Guided by love. 🧡

I don’t just teach yoga.
I embody generations of resilience, brilliance, & strength.

As a Black woman in healthcare & wellness, I know representation isn’t just aesthetic— it’s necessary.

In spaces where our stories are overlooked,
where history is rewritten,
where stress & inflammation disproportionately impact our communities…

Showing up matters.

Teaching breathwork matters. Practicing self-regulation matters. Loving ourselves out loud matters.

This weekend is about love. & self-love is revolutionary.

When I step on this mat, I’m not just moving my body— I’m honoring those who made it possible for me to stand here at all.

Black history isn’t behind us. It’s breathing through us.

✨🖤🧡✨✌🏾✊🏾





02/12/2026

Things ChatGPT told me to eat that actually turned out pretty good 🥣🥑

I’m not perfect, & my diet isn’t either. Some days are cleaner than others— work, travel, social plans, cravings… it happens.

But right now, I’m committed to eating in a way that supports my gut, reduces inflammation, & helps my body feel more regulated overall.

For me, that looks like choosing fresh, simple foods, making swaps when I can, & learning what my body tolerates best— about 75% of the time.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s sustainability.
And honestly? This hasn’t been as hard (or as bland) as I thought— it just takes intention, creativity, & a little curiosity.





A breath-led practice doesn’t come from trying harder—it comes from listening longer.You don’t need to control your brea...
02/10/2026

A breath-led practice doesn’t come from trying harder—
it comes from listening longer.

You don’t need to control your breath to work with it.
With time, repetition, & patience, breath begins to support movement naturally. This is how regulation, strength, & trust are built— without forcing your body into something it’s not ready for.

Learning your body’s rhythm takes time — & space to explore it.

✨This is the work— & it’s enough.





In honor of Black History Month— not just celebrating in quotes, but honoring actual paths & complex lives.I am a Black ...
02/06/2026

In honor of Black History Month— not just celebrating in quotes, but honoring actual paths & complex lives.

I am a Black pharmacist— representing a profession where Black clinicians are still a small minority.

I am a Black woman teaching yoga— a space where representation is still needed.

&& I live with autoimmune disease (Sjögrens), a category of conditions that disproportionately impacts Black women & often goes under-recognized.

This journey isn’t about perfection or visibility alone— it’s about being seen in all of it.

Real bodies, real health stories, & real healing belong here.

So this month, and every month: we honor, we heal, we show up. ✊🏾🖤





02/06/2026

Sometimes my practice doesn’t start with movement—
it starts with a conversation.

On the days my body feels heavy, my brain feels foggy, or motivation is low,
I talk to myself the same way I talk to my students:

✨ You don’t have to do it perfectly
✨ You don’t have to do it for long
✨ You just have to begin

Intentions aren’t about forcing energy you don’t have.
They’re about gently guiding yourself toward what you know will help.

Five-pointed star.
Feet grounded.
Breath steady.
A reminder that showing up— even tired — still counts.





Yoga often looks different in the beginning— not because you’re “doing it wrong,” but because your breath is still learn...
02/03/2026

Yoga often looks different in the beginning— not because you’re “doing it wrong,” but because your breath is still learning how to support you.

Most of us arrive carrying stress in our bodies & shallow breathing patterns in our lungs. With time, repetition, & patience, breath becomes steadier— & movement begins to feel more spacious, grounded, & intuitive. This is why yoga is a practice, not a performance.

Curious how breath shows up in your body?
We explore this gently & intentionally — on & off the mat.

✨ Save this for the days your breath feels hard to find.





Healing isn’t separate from the world we live in.Today I’m holding space— not neutral— for the pain, outrage, & grief ma...
01/30/2026

Healing isn’t separate from the world we live in.

Today I’m holding space— not neutral— for the pain, outrage, & grief many are feeling as people protest for justice, accountability, and human dignity. Everything happening in our world affects our nervous systems, our hearts, our breath… & our communities.

As a Black woman, a healthcare provider, & someone dedicated to movement as medicine, I know that showing up for each other matters— even when it’s hard.

Compassion is not weakness. Love is not apathy. Standing for human life & dignity is not political— it’s human.

Today’s intention: May we choose compassion over indifference.

Let’s commit to learning, listening, and holding space for one another with empathy & action.

🧘🏽‍♀️🧡✨

Breath-led yoga isn’t about moving slower— it’s about moving with intention.When you live with inflammation (whether fro...
01/27/2026

Breath-led yoga isn’t about moving slower— it’s about moving with intention.

When you live with inflammation (whether from stress, injury, or chronic conditions), the body often stays in a heightened state. Breath-led movement helps regulate the nervous system, creating space for the body to feel safer, steadier, & more supported.

✨ Breath becomes more than air— it becomes information.
✨ Movement becomes a way to regulate, not escape.
✨ & over time, awareness replaces force.

Breath is a skill, not a switch— & like all yoga practices, it’s something we build.





Camel Pose (Ustrasana) 🐪 is often described as a heart opener— but what it really invites is presence.This shape asks fo...
01/26/2026

Camel Pose (Ustrasana) 🐪 is often described as a heart opener— but what it really invites is presence.

This shape asks for trust: in your breath, in your body, & in your ability to stay connected even when things feel intense.

Physically & energetically, Camel works through:

✨ Solar Plexus Chakra — confidence, agency, inner fire
✨ Heart Chakra — emotion, compassion, vulnerability
✨ Spinal extension — releasing stored tension & creating space for breath

In times of stress, uncertainty, or emotional weight, these centers matter. When the solar plexus & heart are supported together, we’re better able to stay rooted in ourselves without shutting down or pushing past what we feel.

Movement becomes a way to regulate, not escape— giving the nervous system a place to land.

Every body experiences this pose differently. What it looks like matters far less than how it feels.
🧡🧡

If you’re curious to explore your poses more deeply— how they activate different centers & how they feel in your body — Pose Lab is an open, supportive space to do exactly that.
✨ Learn
✨ Explore
✨ Ask questions

📍 Every other Thursday | Next one: Jan 29
🔗 Link in bio or DM me for details





Address

Antioch, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chemi on the Mat posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category