Black Man. Breathe.™ — A 10-Week Yoga & Breathwork Program for Black Men

Black men carry a lot. Most of it, we were taught to carry quietly.

Black Man. Breathe. is a 10-week program that gives Black men a place to put some of that down. Yoga and breathwork, paired with peer conversation about what actually weighs on us: stress, anger, grief, identity, and brotherhood.

It’s not therapy. Nobody’s diagnosing you. It’s a room full of men who get it, and tools you can use the next time your chest gets tight.

How it works

• 10 weekly sessions
• Every session combines breathwork, movement, and a guided group conversation
• Delivered online or in person, depending on the group
• Led by James Lesly, trauma-informed yoga teacher and founder of Not Your Average Yogi
• In English. French by arrangement.

The first cohort

We ran the first cohort online from April to June 2026, with about 20 men.

What we talk about

• Stress: what it does to your body, and how to bring it down
• Anger: the difference between feeling it and being run by it
• Grief: the losses we never got the space to mourn
• Identity: who you are when you’re not performing strength
• Brotherhood: showing up for each other without the mask

Bring it to your organization

We partner with community organizations, schools, reentry programs, workplaces, and Black-led groups that want to offer this to the men they serve. Tell us about your group and we’ll figure out the right format together.

Black Man. Breathe. is a program of Not Your Average Yogi, a nonprofit registered in Québec. It is not a substitute for mental health care. If you’re in crisis, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time.