I invite you to join me in helping to reduce the harm caused by the Western appropriation of ancestral wisdom traditions. As part of ongoing decolonisation efforts, I acknowledge the relative recency of yoga and other ancestral practices within the Western world in contrast to the vast, rich, and ancient history of these traditions which span thousands of years.

While I am not from India, yogic traditions have profoundly shaped my life since I was 18 years old. Yoga supported me in building resilience and navigating adversity and grief, and it continues to enrich my life and inform my way of being each day.

I am from the Andes region, and as a way of honouring my lineage, I acknowledge the wisdom of my ancestors and their deep relationship with the land and other realms of consciousness—wisdom that fosters equanimity, harmony, balance, and respect. I recognise the deep influence of Kallawaya Medicine from the Bolivian region, and I offer gratitude to the teachers who have generously shared their ancestral knowledge with me, shaping how I live, relate, and connect with others and with the environment.

I also wish to honour the Kulin Nation of Australia and all Aboriginal peoples, whose openness, generosity, wisdom, and ways of life have welcomed me. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, heal, and support others through what has been shared with me.

I acknowledge the influence of Continuum, as well as the work of Emilie Conrad and Amber Gray, whose teachings are informed by Afro-Haitian ceremony and prayer dance traditions. I further recognise the enduring presence of ancestral wisdom in understanding the deep interconnection of mind, body, and spirit—wisdom that today informs evidence-based practices and guides us toward more holistic approaches to healing.

The work we engage in today is rooted in ancient traditions that, through colonisation, were mystified, devalued, suppressed, or banned. It is with humility, respect, and responsibility that I honor these lineages and the living wisdom they continue to offer.