Amplifying Black Voices in Yoga: Chandler Fisher

Q: What does it feel like teaching yoga as a Black woman?

[Chandler]: Taking up space as a new Black yoga teacher feels deeply rewarding. For most of my life, I have existed in predominantly white spaces. I grew up in Danville playing sports like lacrosse, swimming, and rowing sports that, especially where I was raised, were overwhelmingly white. My family was often the only Black family around, and in many of those spaces, my mom was the only Black woman involved.

Being “the only” becomes something you learn to carry. It shapes how you move, how you speak, how you show up. So now, stepping into the front of a yoga room as a teacher taking up space in an industry where you mainly see thin, white women leading the practice feels powerful. It feels like I am offering voice and visibility to a side of yoga that is often underrepresented. Representation matters. It always has.

Q: Why did you choose yoga?

[Chandler]: I chose to teach yoga because it allows me to express myself fully while creating safe spaces for others to move their bodies. I remember being at my sister-in-law’s baby shower and mentioning that I was in teacher training. A light-skinned Black woman, similar to me in body size and complexion, asked where I taught. I explained that I wasn’t teaching yet but mentioned the YogaRenew app. She paused and said, “No, I don’t want to learn from a white, blonde person. I want to be taught by you because of how you look.”

That moment stayed with me.

It reminded me of what it feels like to watch a TV show and finally see a character who looks like you, shares your interests, and moves through the world in a familiar way. There’s comfort in that recognition. There’s belonging. While I support all teachers and believe everyone has something valuable to offer, there is a part of me that will always feel a deeper pull to support Black teachers because I understand how much harder it can be to exist and thrive in these spaces.

Q: Why did you choose YogaRenew?

[Chandler]: The community at YogaRenew has been nothing short of incredible. If it weren’t for this space, I’m not sure I would have taken the leap into teacher training at all. It’s a nonjudgmental, diverse environment filled with people from all walks of life. It felt different from my old studio immediately. I gravitated toward it because it felt real, uplifting, loving, and inclusive.

Teachers help shape the container, but students bring it to life. Flowing beside them has brought me so much joy. They engage with me inside and outside of class. They show up. They hang out. They support. I know that when I begin teaching regularly, they’ll be there not just for the flow, but for me. Some of the people I met here have become best friends. Their love and encouragement have deepened not only my yoga practice but my spiritual journey as well.

Alongside my teacher training, I am also Reiki certified. Energy healing has always resonated with me. I grew up in a religious and spiritual household, and Reiki felt like a natural extension of that foundation. A friend introduced me to it and gently guided me down this path.

One of the most beautiful things I’ve discovered through Reiki is how connected I feel to my ancestors. When energy work is done around my heart space, there’s often imagery of dancing, music, and soul food joyful gatherings that feel deeply rooted in my Black lineage. While I am half white, I was raised culturally Black by my mother and her side of the family. I don’t know much about my white side, so it makes sense that my spiritual connection feels strongest through my Black ancestry. During one reading, I was told that my ancestors want me to lean further into my spiritual gifts. That affirmation felt like permission to stand taller in who I am.

Community care, to me, means pouring into your people. It means listening, learning, and showing up authentically. So often, we create versions of ourselves in our heads who we think we should be, how we think we should sound. I once told my brother that I worried I wasn’t “dark enough” to speak during Black History Month that people might question me. He looked at me and said, “Get over it. You are Black.”

That grounded me.

I was raised as a Black woman by a Black woman. If my music is different in class, if I forget to code-switch, if my voice carries a certain tone. I am showing up as myself. And the community loves me for me.

Yoga gave me belonging. It gave me purpose. It continuously teaches me about presence, humility, strength, and surrender. I love being a student because it means I am always growing. Always learning. Always evolving.

Q: What advice do you have for future Black yoga teachers?

[Chandler]: My advice is simple: yoga is not one-size-fits-all. There is space for you here. Just because you look a certain way does not mean you don’t belong. My energy is inclusive. My vibe is welcoming. I lead with love and empathy because I know those qualities can be scarce in everyday life.

When people step into a room with me, I want them to feel seen. I want them to feel heard. I want them to feel safe taking up space just as I am learning to take up mine. That’s what I would encourage other Black teachers to do — create a space where people feel seen and safe.