Conversations with Randi Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi Williams. 

Hi Randi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2010, I was a stay-at-home mom to two boys, an infant, and toddler. We had just moved from North Carolina to Connecticut. This would turn out to be the third of five major moves within the span of 5 years. A number of things were happening. Firstly, we had moved from a sunny place to a cold (and not just weather) place. Secondly, my husband, who had been working more remotely before, was now working long hours at an office an hour away. In addition, I was experiencing significant postpartum weight gain AND what I would later learn was panic attacks. 

I was mostly alone with my babies. I had no friends who lived near. My closest friend lived in Brooklyn, a 2-hour train ride away, but even still – she was living a fabulous single girl life in the city, and I was living a suburban mom lifetime movie. 

In the short time we lived in Connecticut, we dealt with a potential cancer scare for our 11-month-old baby. Months of visiting new doctors and driving back and forth to Yale to see pediatric cancer specialists, resulted in one frazzled mama. Thankfully tests revealed a non-cancerous tumor, which was removed surgically. My baby was in the clear. But I was not. I was having heart palpitations, shakiness, random sweats, bouts of hyperventilation, and dizziness. I was also lonely. There were days I would pull the car over because I thought I was literally going to die. I felt helpless and weak. I went to see a doctor – who sent me to have a bunch of tests (here we go again with the tests and doctors). Finally, after a bunch of results came back inconclusive, said these words, “I think you’re just really stressed”. Then, she prescribed Xanax and suggested I start practicing yoga. 

The Xanax didn’t work for me, so I tried yoga. I started small. I had “done yoga” in the past, but it didn’t stick. I decided to try it again. Because I couldn’t really get to a studio (no babysitter), I had to rely on the television. This was long before YouTube. The Oxygen network used to run a show at 6 am called “Inhale with Steve Ross & Friends.” This was the first “fun” yoga I had done. He was so regular and super funny. I found myself laughing out loud often during poses. That felt really good. The thing I realized I loved the most was his use of music. The playlist ranged anywhere from vibey world music to soulful songs from Aretha Franklin. I had never taken a yoga class that incorporated music I enjoyed before, and I was hooked. 

When we moved to South Florida (move # 4 in 5 years) in 2011, I was determined to find a “Steve Ross” type of vibe in a yoga studio. I sort of stumbled upon those vibes but got more than I was looking for. The studio I practiced at in South Florida offered “hot vinyasa”… I had no idea what any of those words meant, but I went. After my first 95-degree class where I had sweated everything in my body out, I kept going back. I just felt better. It was everything I never knew I needed. The studio was diverse – both teachers AND students were. You found different ages, bodies, ethnicities, socio-economic status – you name it. Each teacher connected, taught, encouraged, pushed, and loved on us. Oh, and the playlists! I don’t know if they tried to out “playlist” each other, but I was never disappointed. I loved it so much I paid monthly for an unlimited membership and went at least 4 times per week. Did I mention these classes were 90-minute classes? Previously, I would’ve felt guilty to even take an hour away from my kids. That all changed on the yoga mat in that studio. For 90 minutes, while I sweated my ass off and sometimes cried, I took care of me and reminded myself of who I was. 

I loved it so much. I posted regularly about yoga. Anyone who’d listen got an earful about my yoga practice. A friend (same one in BK) suggested I become a teacher. I rejected the idea. It felt equivalent to someone saying, “If you love it so much why don’t you marry it!” – I didn’t want what I perceived was the pressure of being a perfect yoga instructor. But yoga kept calling me. I spent time volunteering teaching yoga to kids in transition homes and after-school programs, teens in juvenile detention, lgbtq+ teens, and so on. Then one day, I looked at myself and said, “Damn – you ARE a yoga teacher.” It was at that point I enrolled in an official yoga teacher training course. That was 2015. 

Now, I have a small studio in back of the health and wellness store, Pillar and Pride, that my husband and I own and operate in Detroit. I’ve made it a point to focus my energy to represent those who don’t feel seen in the wellness community, particularly black women. I’ve supplemented my yoga education by becoming trauma-informed, taking prenatal yoga certification courses, and doula training. I want folks to walk into any space I’m teaching in and feel relieved I’m there. I want someone to take my class and feel better about themselves after. I want people who’ve been ignored to feel seen. I hope I’ve done that. I’ve taught in other studio spaces and continue to “pop-up” here and there when called. I love connecting with people, particularly MY people. The energetic exchange feeds the soul, and I want to make sure we have our portion. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve been blessed to practice in environments that celebrate blackness and “other”ness. I think it’s because I’ve been intentional about where I want to be and who I want to teach. I’ve been to studios where the people at the front desk assume I’m new to yoga or an instructor tells me where to place my mat to follow a more experienced person. Racial micro-aggressions happen even in the yoga community. I choose not to engage with places who make me feel like an outsider and instead focus on the community I want to be in. My goal is to expose more people of color to spaces where we are welcomed. They exist. 

I also find that the way class pricing is structured at most studios becomes an obstacle for many who need to practice yoga. In urban communities, many of the mental and physical ailments people disproportionately deal with could be helped with an ongoing yoga practice. But the access to affordable classes doesn’t really exist. Or studio spaces are few and far between. In my neighborhood on the West Side of Detroit, we are experiencing major gentrification. A new studio recently opened, and when I checked into the price per class, I was astounded! But I also realize it’s none of my business. I am obviously not their target market, and neither are the regular neighborhood folks. So, what do we do? We find ways. Creating space that is affordable, safe, and accessible can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. We’ve done it with our store, Pillar and Pride. I am a believer that Detroiters deserve nice things, and I will continue to find a way to create that for my people. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Interestingly enough, I come from a corporate background. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom – my life involved me commuting to work, wearing suits, and sitting in many meetings. I never envisioned myself as a stay-at-home mother, and certainly not a yoga teacher and wellness store owner – or for that matter someone who has recorded a podcast! Isn’t it funny how life happens and goals change? Now, I basically live in yoga clothes. I love helping people get well – whatever that means for them. 

I initially set out to focus on offering yoga specifically to black women. I just know that this type of practice is something my mom could have benefitted from earlier if she had known it was for her too. When I looked at the grown women in my life, I realized many of them were stressed to the max, weren’t prioritizing themselves, had trauma they weren’t dealing with, and didn’t feel safe being vulnerable. That’s the thing about a yoga practice – it takes you to a place where once you become vulnerable, you begin to shed a lot of shit weighing you down. Once you shed that, you begin to truly breathe. Once you can truly breathe, you begin to feel more aligned. Once you begin to feel more aligned, you begin to see more clearly. You basically begin to live in a way that honors who you are. Black women deserve this. I want to be the embodiment of that. While I embrace everyone who joins me for a yoga class, I am always focusing my intention on the experiences of black women and our needs – which ironically, benefits EVERYONE anyway. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have a wonderful support system. My friends and family encouraged me to pursue this path as a yoga instructor. They saw how much the practice meant to me and knew I could share it with others in a way that is unique to my experience and my own personal story. My husband is a visionary, while I am the pro/con list-maker. I need his enthusiasm and excitement for the unknown to help me be courageous, where I would otherwise be hesitant to pursue anything that doesn’t have clearly defined outcomes. My SoFlo yoga instructors showed me that yoga, while an important personal practice, doesn’t have to be boring and regimented. It could also be sexy, fun, and healing. Zach & Leah Holston, owners of H2O Martial Arts & Fitness gave me my first chance to teach consistently when I moved back to Detroit. I appreciate them so much for providing the space. I especially want to note that my sisterfriend Lisa Hillary J continues to remind me not to dim my light and to share more of myself with the world. We created a space together that hasn’t been filled yet with our podcast “Sometimes We Talk About Yoga – And Other S!@t” – people still approach us today about that poignant and fun show. My brother/friend Tafari Stephenson Howard also deserves a shout-out. We met and instantly became family. He invited me to join him in a space he created that provides yoga, sound healing, brunch, and all of the vibes. Our yoga brunches breathed life into otherwise dreary days early pandemic and continue to be a local favorite. He also takes phenomenal photos! I am forever grateful to my friends (I don’t have “student”) who choose to practice with me. It is a privilege to create a safe space for you. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @randran @grownandgrounded @pillarandpridedetroit

Image Credits
Tafari Stephenson-Howard
Nicole Ashley Allen