Welcome, If you’re new, this article is going to feel uncomfortable from all different angles. I’m inviting you to sit with the discomfort, to feel it, whatever it might be. And if you can’t I get it. I hope you’ll stay.
And if you’d like to join the comments, and connect more. I’ll take off a bit for the month of June. Stay awhile. I’m glad you’re here.
I opened my phone this week and saw a troubling video: a yoga class taught on a roof top with Israelis in Palestine, and a make-shift reporter explaining the wonder of yoga and somatic healing to help Israelis with PTSD. The group included militants and civilians bending, posing and practicing position.
I felt a visceral anger. A heat inside my own body, a nervous system response, what the fuck is this? I thought.
The video was shared on multiple accounts, known for Palestinian liberation messaging. The comments, as expected, were angry too.
“Beyond depraved,” one wrote, vomit emojis several added, “devils cannot be saved by yoga,”another said, “yoga ain’t gonna cleanse that karma,” another wrote. Their anger is valid.
A Palestinian friend of mine posted,
The part that really pisses me off is the victimhood. They go around, unalving children, and they have to do yoga to move through the PTSD of it. But we are not allowed to be upset or say anything back, without them going, “omg why do you hate us so much?”
One other commenter said,
“It’s moral injury, because they’ve committed monstrous crimes against humanity and there’s no way they can feel okay about themselves anymore.”
I added:
“Colonizing yoga and the somatic methods of healing? I struggle to believe they can understand what they’re doing, co-opting healing to justify genocide. Unless accountability and justice are part of this work, this is nothing more than corruption of something holy. Yes, both the oppressor and the oppressed experience trauma, but if truth and reconciliation are not integrated in this work, than it is nothing more than stolen healing from those who need it from these violent colonizers.”
Let’s unpack it, shall we?
The conversation is in heated reaction, rightfully. The pain we are experiencing is real, because it’s a slap in the face for what the work is meant to do. Yogic principles and somatic (body-centered) understanding is meant to enable an awareness and bring one back to their body with a sense of self-agency within the context of a collective responsibility.
In this case, though, which collective is included or, rather excluded?
White washed yoga has been turned into a tactic of avoidance, and isolated self-soothing rather than responsibility. It’s also become an addiction in the west, an ‘organized class’ takes the place of ‘organized religion,’ and the ritual crafts an air of self-care for the privileged in Lulu lemon outfits.
The woman in that video called it a “celebration,” and touted them as brave but added no context for the deeper reality or the process it takes. Frankly, the spread of this video is hasbara, or heavily induced propaganda to elicit empathy for people who are getting away with murder and genocide. This while taking advantage of an “international yoga day” or something. The video itself aims to center perpetrator’s discomfort rather than harm caused.
What strikes me is one of the first principles, or Yamas of Yogic practice is called, Ahimsa, which is translated to non-violence or no harm to living things.
The place where the Israelis begin is Harm, is occupation, is a land taken from its original owners.
And the question I have for the practitioners leading: are you daring to discuss this? Are you bringing concepts on ‘no-harm’ to the rooftop’s energy settled on stolen land? Another of the yamas calls for what’s described as, Asteya, or “non-stealing,” how does that play out?
What say the participants of moral injury? Are you making it safe for them to live with their crimes? Or are the crimes being challenged to transform?
• On the issue of the Oppressor’s trauma,
The throw away line is “hurt people, hurt people.” But it’s not a simple as that. Nor is it enough when the humanity of a people-group unravels to inflict a massacre on another people-group. Without consequence. While the world watches.
Moral injury doesn’t cover it. I mean what the fuck do you call this? Even Genocide seems too “light” anymore. Ahh, but a yoga class with soothing somatic language is going to cover it?
I’ve been mauling about how to offer an understanding here, and I’ll try, so ‘bare it’ with me.
While Zionism is a belief rooted in white supremacy and European ideologies of expansion, which predates WWII, we’re nearly 4 generations after and the 1940s Holocaust in Germany against Jewish communities (along with Black, disabled and LGBTQ). And I’ve observed before~
There’s something sinister in how Zionism’s leaders, in Europe and Palestine warped and exploited the pain of one Holocaust to co-create another with Germany’s survivors. What happened, as a result, was a continuation of rage and monstrous abuse.
This does not negate accountability.
However, it showcases the mechanics of how we get HERE. And it commands recognition of the structure of violence.
And there are those who fall prey and join perpetration. With that in mind, under a practice which aims to take people into their bodies, if there is true self-reflection, both the original affliction and the transference of infliction would likely surface.
The question remains, in this case, is that what’s happening in Tel Aviv? The pattern of behavior suggests, it is not.
It’s tragic.
• Reparative Justice Must Center the Oppressed first...
In the 1990s, a group of teenagers, in Canada broke out into a fight at a party. Reena Virk was kicked, punched, her head smashed against a tree, and she was drowned by two of her classmates, who would be convicted as adults for their crime (A Limited Series was produced a few years ago, called Under the Bridge)
The boy, Warren Glowatski, learned while he was in prison he was a Métis, which in Canada are a recognized mixed Indigenous tribe. Glowatski, at 16-years old decided to learn not only about his heritage but participate in a restorative justice program led by his tribal elders.
Through the process, he met on and off with Reena’s parents (there were bumps on the road to recovery). Their bravery to enter such process with their daughter’s killer, must be recognized here. Reena and her parents’ pain were at the center. Glowatski’s role was to first make amends, to understand Reena as much as he could through her parents’ pain
Reena wasn’t a popular girl at school, she craved to fit in, she was mocked a bullied regularly and even spent time in a group home with other girls. The power dynamic was in his favor, a boy, even as troubled kid, his father was integrated with gangs and his mother was an addict.
He said during his parole hearing,
“My thoughts back then were about being powerful. I call it bravado, or trying to be a gangster. I was screaming out for attention in all the wrong places and I got it.”
The irony was he felt the same, except he had the support to be what he wanted and she didn’t.
During his restorative process, he then shared himself with the Virks. Over time, and by his second parole, the Virks helped support his case to be released, and even said they’d forgiven him. But it wasn’t a light switch.
Hang with me here.
The perpetrator, the dominant offender, the abuser, the killer, must surrender and sit with the pain of the victim/survivor. There must be an acknowledgement of what they’ve done, there must be recognition of the victim’s pain.
It’s not often going to happen in one conversation, it could take months and even years. It’s often an excruciating process for both parties.
In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission only granted amnesty if the perpetrator provided full disclosure of their crimes. In other words, an element of remorse was necessary to be granted amnesty. Reparations followed on a political and cultural level.
Could it work in Palestine?
Honestly, I don’t know. Let’s ask Palestinians, whose self-determination and self-sovereignty must lead the way. Palestinians must be centered.
Would they prefer a Nuremberg Trial outcome? The International Criminal Court to make arrests?
The Hind Rajab Foundation is working hard to identify and “chase” Israeli militants around the world (in countries where they holiday after Gaza) to file war crimes charges. It’s a valiant undertaking.
And, I’ll be honest, the 1950s European Nazi-stripping seems like the path for Zionism. I’ve been vocal about abolishing the Zionistic nation-state of Israel.
Still, Palestinians must have the primary say to what liberation and restoration looks like for them. They’re rarely asked. They’re rarely part of international and political negotiations. Erasure at the highest levels is westernized policy.
Thus far, restoration is not a priority for Israelis. The majority, more than half, support violent ethnic cleansing of Palestinian presence.
Which then begs the question: what restorative reckoning or healing is available to Israelis?
• Addressing Violence Through Yoga & Body Psychology.
Hala Khouri, is a Yoga instructor and Somatic clinician, whose work integrates justice and healing processes, wrote on a recent post,
“Only from a place of radical self-awareness, can we take accountability for our actions and motivations. Without it we blame others and lash out. Or we shame ourselves and hold it in.”
What this shows is —the very nature of the practice, is meant to address our deepest motivations, which are usually fueled by an our deepest fears, which are often found inside our deepest wounds.
Within that context, it ought to compel accountability.
If it doesn’t, and we remain in a version of the shame and blame story, we’ll continue to Harm others. Do you see it?
[Sidenote: I do find it interesting the word, ‘Haram’ in Arabic, often used to refer to something which is ‘forbidden,’ or prohibited, something, in theory which should not cause one or another…harm].
Nearly a decade ago, a similar film called “The Crip Who Loves Yoga” followed a number of Los Angels gang members on a path to healing. In it, one of the men stated,
“I didn’t go outside and see scholars.It was the gang members, they were giving me money. Those guys were my role models.”
Likewise, nearly 4 generations since the establishment of Israel, the ‘role models’ children follow are Zionists and apologists, all taught by teachers, parents and community leaders, and funded by the west.
Years ago, while at a Lebanese owned guest house in Sri Lanka, I met a lone-Israeli woman who’d left her military service. She, like many of them, used her stipend to travel. She was undergoing a deconstruction of sorts and admitted to me, her life was rooted in fear because Israeli communities convinced her, everyone around Israel was her enemy, she should therefore, be afraid and then she was trained to kill. But she was discovering how wrong and toxic that messaging was. Her soul search, her yogic practices, her travel, meeting Palestinians, and discovering new cultures and narratives, radically shook her open.
At the time, I encouraged her to keep going and we parted ways.
A few years ago, I released something of a docuseries, with all the Covid-19 challenges, And Then He Breathed Free, which also focused on how Yoga created healing spaces for Black men who grew up in violence.
One of the men, Amir Jaan told a story about growing up being bullied and he learned how to fight, hard. In one instance after being kicked down the stairs, by a classmate, he said,
“I was feeling furious. I finished that conflict. It was a bloody mess, it was continuous strong, aggressive violence for many years.”
So much so, he would go on to be expelled from both school and his parent’s house after yet another fight ended horribly. Later he found his way to a Sufi community in Morocco with meditative practices and over time, Yoga and Kundalini became the focus of his work.
“I remember feeling back in my body, like some layers were taken off. This was a good medicine for me”
Back in his body. C’est ça.
Do you see it?
Both the oppressor and oppressed must come back to their body. The oppressor might then see what they’ve done. The oppressed might find their worth.
The two might see one another. The two might be in the same body.
But damn, the work it takes to get there? Can feel excruciating because it’s a confrontation.
Avoidance will not work. Colonization is rooted in avoidance.
Ironically, there is an Israeli organization in occupied Palestine called Breaking the Silence, and their goal has been to create a space where veterans could confess not only their own crimes, but the systemic brainwashing within Israeli militancy, share operation tactics and stories for which they would otherwise be silenced or disciplined. It’s a confessional space. They’ve played a key role in exposing systemic horrors.
Is it enough? Some will say no, and demand arrests. Others might suggest it’s a starting point. Either way, if the “confession box” weaves itself with true self-reflective and somatic methods of awareness, is there a pathway out of the trauma for the oppressor and oppression repeating over and again? Or is too little too late? Maybe. None of this is easy. I don’t have the answers.
The truth is, in a Palestinian Liberation centered story, where healing has been stolen, doctors have been raped, hospitals bombed, children forced to become amputees, where hunger, heat, water borne disease and so much more have destroyed the human body and spirit, accountability for their perpetrators must take precedence.
And for those ‘deconstructing,’ for the Israelis who are in the work, for those around the world whose eyes are being open, surrender must become evident and loud.
• Reflection on empowerment and power.
Again, I don’t know if I have all the answers. As a survivor I am still learning.
I am also learning how much power I have in me to repeat offenses inflicted on me. Coming back to my body means I learn how much power I have to harm, how much power I have to turn someone else into ruins.
It’s a little scary to know that. And also, it matters. It then becomes a reference point to discern the difference between oppressive violence and resistance, the contrast of consequential accountability and compassionate reconciliation, navigating between responsibility, reparation and restorative community. Applied to myself, from every angle, as much as the geopolitical conversation.
As one body, so the collective body, and governing bodies too.
The application of Yoga among Israelis right now comes off as a laundering move to bypass responsibility for its land and life theft of Palestinians. It’s not sitting well and there must be a better conversation. The Zionistic body must be broken down to rebuild, from the individual to the society. And restoration must be victim/survivor centered for Palestinians (and Lebanese and so on)
Empowerment embraces accountability. If it fails to manifest, then it was nothing more than a ruse to excuse ‘harm’ on another, while also self-afflicting.
So, Perhaps this is where we sit of the discomfort of grappling with all this. I know what I’ve written is somewhat incomplete, got to start somewhere. Come with me on this, ok?
…and…
May we find our way to the pain of this conversation, so we might finally hold the language of Liberation, yes?
Inshallah
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Ash is a writer, with a somatic lens, a veteran war reporter and relational commentator, to connect, podcast or work with her, hit her up on email here.
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