But hey, these are just misconceptions. Yoga and meditation are beneficial to anyone and everyone, regardless of their color, culture, body type, or location. 

Below are some common myths about yoga and meditation among communities of color, and we dispel all of them.

Myth 1: Yoga and meditation are exclusively Eastern practices

When some people imagine someone doing meditation, they often picture a Hindu person in their head. This stereotype has made many Blacks and Hispanics brush the practice aside as unsuitable for them. They just don’t fit into that stereotype that they’ve pictured. 

Although yoga and meditation originated from Eastern traditions, they are now pretty common in the West, even among Black and Hispanic communities. In fact, Black participation has climbed from 2.5% in 2002 to 9.3% in 2017, according to National Health Interview Survey Data. Also, 5.7% of yoga instructors are black. 

Everything must originate somewhere, but that doesn’t make it exclusive to that region. Yoga and meditation are the most common alternative health approaches in the US today.

Myth 2: Yoga and meditation are religious practices

Some people are hesitant to get involved with yoga and meditation because they consider it a religious practice. Some even mistake it for Hinduism and Buddhism. But nothing could be further from the truth.

While people of the Hindu faith have practiced yoga for ages, and although it is a spiritual practice, it is not a religion. Neither is meditation. Yoga and meditation are a way to connect your body with your spirit to achieve unity, to be in the present while letting go of all your sources of stress and anxiety. It is mental relaxation. 

Yoga is a physical exercise to build flexibility and strength. It also relaxes you, helps you sleep better, and improves heart health. 

So whether you are a Muslim, Christian, or atheist, you can do yoga and meditation as they don’t interfere with your religion. It’s all about improving your mental and physical health.

Myth 3: There are no yogis of color

One prevalent misconception about yoga and meditation within communities of color is that there are no black yogis. This is driven by the fact that most magazines feature White and Asian yoga instructors. But as already mentioned, Black participation in yoga is increasing, with 5.7% of yoga instructors being Black. 10.6% are Hispanic or Latino. 

Participation in yoga and meditation and yoga among communities of color is on the rise as more people are beginning to see the benefits beyond the stereotypes.

Myth 4: It leads to cultural appropriation

Many Blacks and Hispanics avoid getting involved with yoga and meditation as they fear it will lead to cultural appropriation. But as we already mentioned, these two practices transcend a specific culture, race, or geographical region. So, practicing yoga as a Hispanic is not the same as adopting an Asian culture. The practice started in the East, but yoga has since been recognized as a physical and mental exercise, not a cultural practice. Practicing yoga and meditation is all about accepting how these exercises benefit your mind and body.

Myth 5: You need special classes and materials

Most people think about yoga and their minds go to a group of people moving in a closed space moving in rhythm, barefoot, and on a special kind of mat. So they assume that all of that is required before you can practice yoga and meditation. Again, nothing could be further from the truth.

Yoga and meditation could be practiced anywhere: in your bedroom, living room, or yard, without any specific equipment or attire. You do not need to register for a special class. Some platforms like Loop Health offer free resources online to help people of color practice yoga and meditation at home. 

Myth 6: It’s not for men

This conception rides on the images of yoga instructors we often see online; they are mostly women. Most men of color identify with strength and would jettison the idea of doing anything that contradicts that virtue of masculinity. It’s interesting to note that 13% of all yoga instructors are men, according to Zippia. Non-binary instructors also make up 13%. The conclusion is that whatever you identify as, yoga and meditation are for everyone.

The Bottom Line

The stereotypes most people hold about yoga and meditation are mere misconceptions, drawing from their little understanding of the practices. As you can see, they are not peculiar to any culture or identity. 

Yoga and meditation are gaining popularity among communities of color, and if the benefits appeal to you, there’s no reason to have reservations anymore. Find free resources to help you get started by visiting Loop Health today.

Did you know that minority populations in the United States are more likely than Whites to experience chronic mental health disorders with more severe symptoms? Yet, white adults (16.6%) seek mental health services more frequentlythan Black (8.6%), Hispanic (7.3%), and Asian (4.9%) adults. That means many people of color are battling with mental health issues but are not receiving the care they need. This is often due to difficulty locating a therapist of the same cultural background, the stigma around mental disorders in some minority communities, or even financial constraints. 

We created Loop Health to bridge that gap. We understand that just like everyone else, people of color need to have more access to mental health services that can enhance their overall quality of life and well-being. And for these individuals to be more willing to seek help, they want to be able to easily locate therapists of their unique cultural backgrounds, people who understand them. Loop Health makes all of that possible. 

Whether you are Asian, Black, or Hispanic, Loop Health matches you with a licensed therapist from your culture who is experienced in dealing with the unique issues you are facing.

But beyond that, we also recognize that wholesome living involves not only mental health care but prioritizing your physical health as well. We created Loop Health to enable people of color to access free self-care resources on fitness, diet, stress management, and more, alongside mental health experts from the same cultural backgrounds. Everything is tailored for minority communities.

At Loop Health, our aim is to build a culturally competent online therapy platform that understands, respects and celebrates our clients’ unique backgrounds.

Why Companies Like Loop Health are Essential to the Communities They Serve

Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health Among Minority Communities

Stigma of mental health is a common theme among many minority communities in the US. Sadly, it started so long ago and has been passed from generation to generation that it has become ingrained in these cultures. 

For example, the root of mental health stigma among black people can be traced back to the times of slavery. It was believed that these enslaved people were naturally not open to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. 

“From those historic misconceptions, we learned to ignore mental illness or call it other terms, like ‘stress’ and ‘being tired,'”, said Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH, a black psychiatrist.

When depression is described with such terms, it causes people to underestimate its far-reaching impact.

Such beliefs have been passed on to the extent modern black people now consider psychiatric disorders as a personal weakness, something embarrassing. 63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness.

Even Martin Luther King Jr. refused psychiatric treatment, although he reportedly suffered from severe depression.

Also, many Asian cultures place a high value on public image. So, individuals may not acknowledge their mental health challenges as it may bring shame to their family and reputation.

But platforms like Loop Health are changing this narrative. We are creating awareness among these minority populations to help them realize they can talk to therapists who understand this stigma but still went ahead to study psychiatry in order to help members of their community who are averse to showing vulnerability.

Easy Access to Someone Just Like You

When you are in an environment with diverse ethnicities, won’t you feel so much better when you find someone from the same background to whom you can tell your personal issues? Someone who identifies with you and your unique challenges. Such a person will be attuned to the nuances of your daily life, your cultural disposition towards mental health, and the social pressures you face as a person of color living in the US.

It’s natural. A depressed Asian will find it easier to talk with an Asian therapist than one of another culture. The same applies to Blacks and Hispanics. It’s more like keeping it within the family. We understand these nuances and have created Loop Health to address that.

Wholesome Care for the Total Individual

We often focus so much on mental health care that we fail to address some underlying problems that may be nullifying our efforts. Things like diet and our level of activity can influence our mood and overall well-being. 

For example, did you know that consumption of ultra-processed foods can put you at risk of depression? Caffeine can also worsen ADHD symptoms. On the other hand, simple activities like yoga and regular exercises may be all you need to manage stress, combat your mental health issues, and feel happier overall. In short, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.

At Loop Health, we understand this, so we provide access to not only therapists but also dietitians and fitness coaches. You will also find free resources and tools to help you on your journey towards a higher quality of life. No matter where you are in your journey, platforms like Loop Health allow you to satisfy your physical and mental wellness needs all in one place.

Eliminating Subtle Bias and Mistrust

Youths of color with mental health issues are more likely to be sent to the juvenile justice system than to mental health care services. There’s obviously a subtle bias when dealing with ethnic minorities, and we don’t see it going away soon. Moreover, some people of color are hesitant to seek treatment for fear of being misdiagnosed because the psychiatrist holds a cultural stereotype, causing them to evaluate the patient’s situation subjectively rather than objectively. In fact, black men with symptoms of mood disorders or PTSD are more likely to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.

To alleviate such concerns, we require more than just the availability of providers; providers have to be skillful enough to address and mitigate the misgivings of the minority communities they serve.

Platforms like Loop Health acknowledge that. So, we don’t offer just any provider: our licensed specialists understand the concerns, bias, and mistrust that exist between psychiatrists and patients of color. Our aim is to provide a comfortable space where minority communities can receive culturally competent care devoid of judgment and ethnic bias.

Mental Health Issues Based on Cultural Nuances

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared racism a serious threat to public health that potentially increases the risk of poor health outcomes among people of color. Although racism isn’t as evident as it once was, we can’t deny that there are still subtle, systemic prejudices today. Such traumatic experiences can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression among victims.

Now, it is unlikely for such victims to consider seeking mental health care from a therapist who belongs to the perpetrator’s ethnic group, fearing a lack of understanding or empathy. 

Moreover, different ethnicities have varying cultures. As we have seen, culture can influence perceptions surrounding mental health. A therapist may be unable to acknowledge and validate the cultural beliefs of a patient from another ethnic group. This kind of situation may cause friction between the provider and client, with the client quitting therapy prematurely.

This is another reason platforms like Loop Health are essential to the communities they serve. By matching clients with providers within their own communities, the issue of cultural friction can finally be eliminated. And people in minority communities will be more open to mental health care when they see more providers of their race. This level of culturally competent care is something that simply improving the capacity of white mental health clinicians may be unable to solve.

The Bottom Line

As we can see, Loop Health and services like it are changing the narrative for mental health among ethnic minorities in the US. From culturally competent professionals to culturally sensitive content, we put all the resources you need for all-round wellness at your fingertips. 

And for licensed wellness professionals of color, Loop Health offers an avenue to reach more clients, people who need you the most.

Join now.