As a wellness brand, we’ve long been aware of the influences that Asian culture has had on today’s wellness industry—as well as the direct link from Asian people to various healing modalities. As a practitioner of the healing arts, I have benefited from Asian culture in my own studies of Thai massage, Breathwork, Pranayama, Yoga, Gua Sha in all its techniques, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
There has been a surge of anti-Asian hate crimes and attacks across the globe since the start of the pandemic. The recent shooting in Atlanta was devastating, and it’s clear that the AAPI community needs our solidarity now more than ever. Those of us outside of the AAPI community can make positive change by doing our own work to confront and dismantle our internalized racism toward Asian people, working to become more educated on issues of anti-Asian discrimination, and being an ally in each of our digital and local communities.
Going forward, we will be donating $2 of every gua sha stone sold to AAPI Women Lead, an initiative raising awareness around AAPI women and their experiences with discrimination and oppression.
Asian Practitioners and Creators to Follow
An important part of learning about any community is listening to people within and of that group. Since the attacks in Atlanta, Asian creators have been vocal about how people can support the community.
The following is a list of people who we respect and appreciate learning from on social media. Please remember to pay educators and creators when you are able in order to respect and support their work, time, and energy.
- @luminaewellness: TCM, acupuncture, herbs
- @treatmentbylanshin: TCM
- @yang.face: Gua Sha, TCM, acupuncture
- @jayda_kissed: Sex & Love Educator
- @jezzchung: creative equity & emotional liberation
- @bareivy: codependency therapist
- @ivymoonheals: social worker, breathwork facilitator, yoga teacher
- @asiansformentalhealth: Clinical Psychologist specializing in Asian mental health
- @redcanarysong: organizing for/with Asian & migrant sex workers
- @michelleyangwriter: mental health advocate, writer
- @gabrielasage: mental health educator, sustainable living
- @outdoorasian: building outdoor AAPI community
- @luminikki: yoga and mindfulness
- @shopceremonie: magick, core shamanism, occultism
- @disability_visibility: celebrating disability culture and media
Further Learning and Recommended Resources
Beyond diversifying who you are following, we also recommend spending time learning more about the long history of anti-Asian racism in the United States (or the country you are from) and identifying ways you can help and/or donate to support.
The following is a non-comprehensive list of resources to start with:
- Asian Americans is a 5-part series on PBS covering the history of Asians in the U.S.
- PBS also has this article on the long history of anti-Asian racism in America
- Here is a guide on what to do if you are a bystander and witness a hate/racism-fueled incident
- Jezz Chung (from list above) put together this doc of readings and resources
- Sarah Belle Lin, a journalist, put together this extensive list of accounts to follow, organizations to support, and other info
- Vox’s article on how to fight anti-Asian racism
- Anti-Asian Violence Resources