Beyond Words: Embodied Practices for Real DEI and Racial Equity
In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a focal point in workplaces, schools, and communities across the nation. But for DEI and racial equity to truly succeed, it’s essential to go beyond conversations and implement practices that support healing and embodiment. Why? Because the stress of racism and discord impacts everyone’s health—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The Health Toll of Racial Stress: Denial and Spiritual Bypass Aren’t Solutions
Racism isn’t just a societal issue; it’s a health crisis. Studies consistently show that the stress of experiencing, witnessing, or even being aware of racial injustices can have tangible impacts on health. These stressors lead to chronic stress, increased blood pressure, and a weakened immune system, among other physical issues. This toll isn’t limited to those directly affected by racism but resonates across communities and workplaces, eroding trust and safety.
The stress of racism doesn’t disappear simply because we choose not to see it. Denying racism’s existence or impact only forces it to fester under the surface, where it continues to harm health and relationships. When we pretend that racism isn’t a reality, we create an environment where tension persists in unspoken ways, eroding trust and creating emotional distance.
This denial also prevents authentic healing and dialogue. “Spiritual bypass”—using spiritual principles to sidestep uncomfortable truths—doesn’t offer a real path forward, either. While practices like forgiveness and compassion are essential, they must be grounded in acknowledgment and action. Bypassing the real work of acknowledging injustice can actually amplify stress, as it avoids addressing the deeper wounds that need healing.
Real healing, by contrast, starts with honesty. By acknowledging that racism is a lived experience for many people, we open the door to healing conversations and genuine empathy.
According to Yoli Maya Yeh, co-founder of DEIcipher Consulting it isn’t enough just to change policies or talk about equitable solutions, but rather it’s important to adopt an embodied approach: “The DEI framework modeled thus far promotes becoming aware of the implicit (and explicit) racist/oppressive programming that each of us holds internally and from which we act and react in the world. In order to drive outcomes of more diverse spaces, more equitable access to resources and cultures of inclusivity and belonging, how we approach this work must transform. Our effort will remain largely conceptual and will not access empathy and belonging without bringing the work into the body. We cannot simply change the rules (policy focus) and expect actions to follow suit.
Rooted in the body, we get actual access to the mind - we can turn the mirror towards ourselves, examine, dismantle and deconstruct.This is what it will take to move us from pointing out the problem, dredging trauma and stalling-out into a realm of hurt, blame and paralysis to actually solving the equity puzzle.”
Embodied Practices as Pathways to Healing: Rest, Play, Nature, and Creative Expression
When we think of DEI work, relaxation, play, nature, and creative expression might not be the first things that come to mind. Yet, these embodied practices—acts of rest, laughter, connecting with nature, and engaging in artistic expression—are foundational ways to heal and alleviate the stress associated with racism and discord. True healing requires spaces where people can connect authentically, find common ground through shared experiences, and engage in practices that nurture the mind, body, and spirit.
1. Rest: The Power of Sleep and Deep Relaxation
While typical embodied practices like yoga and mindfulness are effective, true rest is foundational for deep healing. Practices like yoga nidra, a state of conscious relaxation, and especially ensuring sufficient quality sleep at night can be transformational. Rest allows the nervous system to downregulate, releasing stress stored in the body. By prioritizing rest, we acknowledge that we can’t tackle the weight of DEI work without first recharging our minds and bodies. Incorporating rest into DEI initiatives means offering spaces for quiet reflection, relaxation lounges, or even workshops on restorative practices like yoga nidra. This creates a culture where rest is valued as essential, not as a reward, and where people are empowered to show up as their best, balanced selves.
2. Play: Building Relationships Through Joy and Laughter
Play enhances mental well-being, boosts creativity, and reduces stress, making it essential for adult health and happiness. It also brings people together in ways that conversation alone cannot. Laughing together, sharing lighthearted moments, and simply enjoying each other’s company create bonds and trust that sustain us through more difficult conversations. Play encourages empathy, helping us see one another beyond roles or titles. In DEI work, play can be infused through team-building activities, creative challenges, or shared recreational events that break down hierarchical barriers. Research shows that play reduces stress and improves overall well-being, helping people approach complex issues with more openness. When we prioritize fun, we create an atmosphere of trust, where real relationships—and therefore real DEI work—can thrive, making it easier to navigate difficult conversations and fostering a sense of shared humanity.
3. Nature: Recalibrating Through Connection with the Natural World
Spending time in nature offers a unique form of healing. Our visual and sensory systems are hardwired to respond positively to natural settings, where we experience “fractal resonance”—a calming alignment with the patterns in nature that recalibrate our brains and reduce stress. Nature helps us step out of our immediate concerns, offering a larger perspective that reminds us of our interconnectedness. Nature-based DEI initiatives could include outdoor retreats, garden spaces within workplaces, or even simple changes like natural lighting and greenery indoors. Time in nature provides a grounding force, anchoring DEI work in a collective understanding that we are all part of something larger than ourselves, helping us navigate DEI challenges with calm and resilience.
4. Creative Expression: Art as Healing, Release, and Connection
Creative expression is one of the most profound and enduring ways to process emotions, express complex experiences, and connect across differences. In DEI work, art forms like dance, music, painting, sculpture, mosaic making, metal arts, collage and others become powerful tools for release and healing. Each form of artistic expression allows individuals to convey feelings and perspectives that might be difficult to articulate in words. Art encourages exploration and vulnerability, creating spaces where people can authentically express themselves and feel seen and heard.
Artistic expression as part of DEI could include communal art projects, where people collaborate to create something larger than themselves, or individual opportunities for self-expression through painting, music, or movement. Dance, for example, engages the body and releases stress, fostering a sense of freedom and unity. Mosaics and collages bring together diverse pieces into a harmonious whole, symbolizing the beauty of diversity within unity. These practices reinforce empathy, build connection, and allow for collective healing.
Research shows that creative practices can reduce anxiety, improve emotional well-being, and promote a sense of accomplishment and purpose. When we integrate art into DEI work, we’re not only fostering healing for individuals but also strengthening the bonds within communities. Creativity becomes a bridge to understanding, helping people experience and honor each other’s unique perspectives and creating a truly inclusive culture.
To achieve true racial equity, we must go beyond conversation and policies. We need to address the emotional and physical toll that racial discord takes on us all. Embodied practices offer tools that help us connect, understand, and, ultimately, heal. It’s time to move beyond talking about DEI and racial equity to truly embodying these ideals for the wellbeing of us all individually and the sustainability of the collective.
To dive deeper and explore how racism lives in your body and mind and to start dismantling and deconstructing it collaboratively in your workplace, contact
Yoli Maya Yeh and Ruthann Gagnon at DEICIPHER | DEI Consulting. To experience respect, belonging and co-creation of safe, brave spaces and the difference this makes for your body, mind, and spirit, contact info@BeStrongFamilies.org about More Perfect Union, Vitality, and Justice Is Love in Public Cafes.