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"When a child feels free to be exactly who they are — in their body, in their joy, in their celebration — that is wellness in its fullest expression."
June is Pride Month, and at It's Yoga Kids®, we celebrate it with our whole hearts. Because our mission has always been about every child. Every body. Every family. Every identity. We exist to help all children feel healthier and happier. That means creating spaces where every young person feels seen, safe, and free to be fully themselves.
This June, one story from the world of college sports stopped us in our tracks and reminded us exactly why inclusion in movement spaces matters so deeply.
Jordan Lucas: the celebration heard around the volleyball world
CSUN redshirt junior Jordan Lucas is an openly gay volleyball player and his expressive, joyful point celebrations became the talk of college sports this spring. Lucas' celebration style is eccentric and unmistakably his own letting the world know he's fully, unapologetically himself every time he scores.
Then a color commentator suggested during a broadcast that a player should physically assault Lucas for those very celebrations. Condemnation was immediate — from social media, from the volleyball community, and from prominent voices across sport. The commentator was removed from future broadcasts and issued a public apology.
But here is what happened next, and it is the part that gave us hope. Lucas posted a compilation of his point celebrations on Instagram. It was viewed more than 30 million times and liked 1.7 million times. The world showed up for him. Loudly. Joyfully. Overwhelmingly.
Jordan Lucas did not shrink. He did not apologize. He celebrated — and the world celebrated with him. That is the power of belonging.
Why belonging belongs on the yoga mat
At It's Yoga Kids®, we talk a lot about physical fitness and mental health. But underneath all of it is something even more fundamental: every child's right to feel safe in their body and celebrated for who they are.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQAI+ youth who feel accepted, by their families, their communities, and their peers, have significantly better mental health outcomes. Belonging is not a bonus. It is a basic human need. And movement spaces, when they are truly inclusive, become some of the most powerful places where belonging is felt in the body, not just talked about.
In our classes, every child is encouraged to move in their own way, celebrate in their own style, and show up exactly as they are. No two bodies are the same. No two expressions of joy are the same. And that is not just accepted at It's Yoga Kids® — it is celebrated.
What we stand for — all year, every year:
🌈 Inclusive spaces: every child, every family, every identity is welcome on our mat
💪 Strong bodies: physical confidence is the foundation of emotional freedom
🌬️ Calm minds: mindfulness helps every child navigate a world that isn't always kind
🦋 Joyful expression: every celebration, every style, every version of you belongs here
To every LGBTQAI+ child, teenager, and family in our community: we see you. We celebrate you. And we will always show up for you — on the mat and off it.
Stay Strong. Be Calm. Celebrate exactly who you are.
XO~Michelle