Joanna Brooks has been creating a safe wellness studio for people of color for the past 10 years.

She developed an interest in yoga as a teenager and, over time, explored different areas of fitness, she wrote in her LinkedIn bio. This exploration influenced her practices, which include Bikram Yoga, Hot Vinyasa Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, and Yin Yoga, ultimately leading to the establishment of Embody YOGA studio in Milwaukee, WI.

“These styles contribute significantly to my teaching style. I am experienced in leading both group and private classes and enjoy working with people of all ages. My intention is for my students to leave class with a quiet sense of strength and peace,” she wrote in her bio.

In an Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Feb. 18, Brooks honored the instructors who came before her, giving them their flowers for paving the way — including ZenZen Yoga Arts Founder Therese Bailey.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Embody yoga is not the first of anything. As far as I know, the first Black-owned yoga studio title belongs to Therese Bailey, who founded ZenZen Yoga Arts @zenzen_coach. When I started Embody Yoga, I taught my first classes out of her studio space. She gave me many words of encouragement and pretty much made me create a website. I’m grateful for her example,” Brooks wrote on Instagram.

For those interested in Embody YOGA studio, it offers yoga and Pilates classes Monday through Sunday. According to its website, pricing starts at $15 for a single class. The studio also works with students and youth-serving organizations and has reached countless people, most of whom are people of color, WISN reports. This demographic focus was intentional, as Brooks noticed a lack of representation in yoga studios where she had practiced.

“After experiencing firsthand the benefits of yoga, I wanted to share the practice with as many people as possible, especially those under-represented in the yoga community. One study found that only 1/5 of yoga practitioners are people of color,” she said in her LinkedIn bio. “Considering the health issues that plague this particular population (in addition to other stressors), this number bothered me. It became my personal goal to change it. This goal led to the birth of Embody YOGA. Believing that yoga is for everyone (regardless of race, gender, age, or socio-economic status), we offer our services in a way that is welcoming and accessible for all.”