It’s Local Season at Maine Afro Yoga Project

Photos by Amanda Huebner Photography

Healing, Joy, and Community: The Maine Afro Yoga Project is a local nonprofit rooted in healing and community. 

Founder Nuna Gleason came to Maine seeking asylum. While navigating the immense stress of starting over in a new country, a therapist introduced her to yoga. In those early classes, she discovered something she had never been taught before: how to be with herself. Through breath and movement, she began to feel a sense of calm as she discovered the deep connection between mind and body.

Her yoga journey began with a scholarship from Sea Change Yoga and enrolling in a 200-hour teacher training at Portland Yoga Project. At the same time, she was leading a support group for immigrant survivors of sexual violence. As she deepened her knowledge of yoga, she began to bring what she had learned into her circle of immigrant women. She taught them how to breathe. How to move. How to settle their nervous systems. They loved it. Yoga was no longer just a personal practice for her, it became a tool for healing for herself and her community.

Shortly thereafter Nuna moved to South Portland and discovered a barn next to her home. She envisioned a greater purpose for the vacant space and began gathering women there to practice together. One woman invited another. Then another. The group grew organically, fueled by trust and word of mouth. 

A Welcoming Space 

Yoga can feel exclusive or intimidating, especially for those who have never stepped into a studio before. The Maine Afro Yoga Project exists to counter that perspective. All bodies and beliefs are welcome.

Classes are intentionally different from what many people expect. There is no loud music and it's not focused on fitness, but rather connection. The environment is joyful, peaceful and welcoming. Instructions may be offered in multiple languages, reflecting the immigrant communities the project prioritizes. Participants pause to introduce themselves. They build relationships. It feels less like a yoga class and more like a community gathering. 

People may arrive late. Mothers may bring their children. A volunteer plays with kids upstairs while women practice downstairs. Flexibility is part of the design, because real life is hard enough for marginalized populations. 

When someone who only speaks English joins a class, the founder hopes they gain a small window into what it feels like to navigate daily life in another language as an immigrant in Maine. It becomes an opportunity for empathy.

Showing Up for Each Other

In Maine it is common to feel more isolated during the winter months as temperatures and weather make it difficult to move around. During this time of year, gathering in-community becomes even more important. That said, current realities have created new challenges for in-person connection among Maine’s immigrant community, however the need for connection remains.

The immigrant community served by the Maine Afro Yoga Project does not have abundant financial resources. Still, they show up. Participants pay what they can because they understand how meaningful the offering is and they want it to continue.

The broader Maine community has also stepped forward. Some people pay for classes they never attend, simply to ensure someone else can. Others donate beyond the cost of a class to create opportunity for a neighbor. Several local studios have offered their own spaces to accommodate larger classes.

This is what supporting Local looks like in action. Neighbors investing in neighbors. Community members making sure something good continues to exist, even if they are not the direct beneficiary.

Why Local Season Matters Here

Right now, more than ever, the message is simple. We need each other. We need spaces where people feel they belong. We need to support local initiatives that are grounded in love, healing, and shared humanity.

Supporting Local does not only mean shopping or dining. It can mean donating so someone else can attend class. It can mean visiting the studio and contributing a little extra to help sustain the mission. It can mean choosing spaces that create connection over isolation.

In a state where small organizations and grassroots projects shape so much of our culture, the Maine Afro Yoga Project is a powerful reminder that community care is Local Season at its core. When we invest in each other, we strengthen the fabric of our community.