Ghylian Bell, E-RYT 500

Ghylian Bell founder and director of The Urban Yoga Foundation began her yoga journey in New York practicing the Asthanga tradition in 1994 with Eddie Stern at Yoga Shambala. Bell moved on to the ISTHA practice with Allan Finger, Heart Of Yoga practice with Mark Whitwell and also trained with Maju Jois son of Patabbi Jois. When introduced to the teaching methods of Tao Porch Lynch and Kemetic yoga teacher Yiser Ra Hotep Bell deepened her practice even more. With her focus now on fusing the indigenous practices of Kemetic Hatha and Tao lineages Ghylian knew that she needed to bring this knowledge forward to the communities she serves.

In November 2007, Ghylian founded the Urban Yoga Foundation, a 501c non-profit with the purpose to create yoga and mindfulness programs that specifically target the needs of students of color as well as create a platform for teachers of color to teach in their community so that communities may reclaim self -love and healing practices founded in a mindful culture. The Urban Yoga Foundation serves all who are seeking a path to wellness.

In communities of privilege, UYF utilizes serviced based principles of yoga to increase social awareness and promote collective work and responsibility .We do this in three ways: First, we delve into the origins of yoga, which were established in Africa, then expanded to India and other parts of Asia. This approach provides context for a shift away from the Eurocentric/western experience that most within the privileged community are exposed to. Next we challenge students to consider how they may leverage their experience to serve others. Finally, we invite students to promote and advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the community and beyond.

Urban Yoga Foundation is a national organization that partners and creates outreach programs available for schools, organizations, studios and corporations. Our Integrative Health and mindfulness programs, yoga classes, meditations, professional development workshops and teacher trainings were created for yoga teachers, therapists, nurses, parents, caregivers, social workers and all who intend to teach in urban or highly stressed areas. Ghylian Bell and UYF have piloted programs in schools throughout the New York metropolitan area, and to this day have reached over 500,000 individuals. UYF created its grassroots live workspace model creating safe spaces to share the feeling of home.

Ghylian shares her wealth of knowledge and experience from her life journey in many public engagements, Bell served as moderator at the 2017 WomenWerk Forum, a women's empowerment organization which provides a platform for women to discuss and celebrate the way gender bias is perceived and overcome. Ghylian was also a featured speaker at the 2017 Mindful Life Conference, one of the largest conferences on mindfulness in the United States. She has facilitated and spoken about trauma informed practices at the Omega Institute, a non-profit organization that focuses on holistic healing and the power of human potential. Ghylian has traveled to several Universities holding workshops and speaking on health equity and justice. Ghylian is also certified in whole food nutrition and held the position as Chair with the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Woman" campaign. Ghylian will lead a practice this fall partnering with Wonderlust Brooklyn’s 2 day Festival in September 2019. Bell helps bring education in health, equity, diversity and self-love through service.