A former belly dancer discusses the social justice issues of her profession and her transition into a new phase of life. The podcast also explores the cultural appropriation and racism in belly dance, the impact of George Floyd on the community, and the speaker's shift in priorities from performance to family.
The speaker discusses the challenges of running a business and the impact of COVID on her career in the belly dance community.
The speaker highlights the benefits of powerlifting workouts and the potential advantages of getting stronger and building muscle.
The speaker and her spouse weigh the pros and cons of buying a unique house that requires significant renovations, considering financial and lifestyle considerations.
Deep dives
Running your own yoga and belly dance business
The speaker used to run her own yoga and belly dance business but got burnt out and decided to step away from it. She talks about the challenges of running a business and the impact of COVID on her career. She also discusses the cultural appropriation and Orientalism issues in the belly dance community.
Interest in powerlifting
The speaker is currently into powerlifting and enjoys lifting weights as a form of exercise. She talks about the fun and progression in powerlifting workouts, as well as the potential benefits of getting stronger and building muscle as she gets older.
Contemplating buying a unique house
The speaker and her spouse are considering buying a unique house that requires significant renovations. They discuss the pros and cons of buying a house with unconventional features and the financial and lifestyle considerations involved.
The Shift from Performance to Personal Focus
The podcast episode discusses the shift from a performance-oriented lifestyle, such as dance and yoga, to a more personal focus. The speaker shares their own experience of moving on from teaching dance and yoga online during the pandemic and realizing the importance of prioritizing health and happiness. They highlight the burnout and toxicity present in the performance world and the challenges of navigating cultural appropriation and racism within these communities. The speaker expresses the need to step away from the drama and intense conversations surrounding these performance realms and instead focus on being a chill person who enjoys life.
Toxicity and Abuse in the Yoga World
The episode delves into the darker side of the yoga world, discussing instances of abuse and misconduct by well-known yoga figures. The conversation highlights cases of sexual abuse and the shift towards a more fitness-oriented approach to yoga, which sometimes neglects the original intention of the practice. The discussion explores how some yoga celebrities have been exposed as narcissists and perpetrators of abuse, challenging the stereotype of the yoga community as being progressive and inclusive. The speaker shares their own decision to distance themselves from the yoga world, choosing to prioritize their own well-being and happiness.
An ex-belly dancer waiting for her cat sitter to show up opens this call by telling Gethard about participating in whimsical hobbies on the Jersey shore. Then, she breaks down the social justice issues inherent in her former profession and the part those issues played in her recent transition into a new phase of life.
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