A University of New Mexico international education advisor is bringing trauma-informed, multilingual yoga classes to Albuquerque’s immigrant and refugee communities, according to an April 9 announcement. Fiore Bran-Aragón, who works with the university’s Global Education Office, co-founded Kula Yoga ABQ with Alejandra Cruz Blanco to make yoga more accessible for people often left out of mainstream spaces.
The effort aims to address stress and promote healing among immigrants and refugees by offering donation-based classes in both Spanish and English. The founders say their approach is rooted in a desire for inclusion and agency within wellness practices. “Yoga is a beautiful practice that can help ground and heal people through very stressful times,” said Bran-Aragón. She added that high costs and language barriers have made traditional yoga classes inaccessible for many in the immigrant community.
Cruz Blanco said, “Every space I visited, I noticed I was the only person who looked like me. Offering classes in Spanish was an important first step to sharing yoga with the community. It is also a beautifully visual practice, so we can bridge language barriers by demonstrating each pose.”
Kula Yoga ABQ partners with local community centers and churches to reach participants where they feel comfortable. The founders emphasize choice during their sessions; participants use cards to indicate if they want assistance or not. “Trauma-informed yoga refers to practicing yoga in a way that’s much more intentional,” said Bran-Aragón. “We encourage choice and agency throughout, because we know that for a lot of our immigrant community, choice is not an option.”
Bran-Aragón draws on her own experience as an international student from Nicaragua who moved to Albuquerque in 2019 for graduate studies in Latin American studies. She now works daily with UNM’s international students—a group she says faces unique stresses during transitions—and believes yoga can be a supportive tool.
The University of New Mexico enrolled over 24,000 students across its main and branch campuses in spring 2023 according to the official website. UNM serves as a cultural resource through its libraries, museums, galleries, performance spaces while promoting diversity and engagement as stated on the official website. The university has more than 200,000 alumni worldwide including national academy fellows according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Kula Yoga ABQ plans continued outreach through partnerships within the city’s diverse communities.
