Leslie Salmon Jones is equal parts passion and Zen. That dichotomy is present not only in her personality but in her yoga business, Afro-Flow Yoga – a fusion of enthusiastic live drums African dance and calming yoga. Salmon Jones has been in the yoga game since her days training as a dancer at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where she experienced the connection between the two forms of movement.
Originally from Toronto, the Boston-based yogi travels across the globe teaching one-on-one as well as group classes. Her training in wellness coaching, public speaking and personal training have enhanced her brand, making her a perfect fit for BlackEnterprise.com’s Yogapreneur feature.
What was the impetus behind venturing into the health and fitness industry as an entrepreneur?
This is a question of which some first comes first: the chicken or the egg. My father was a surgeon who worked with the morbidly obese and when I was a kid I worked in his office and notice how obesity is a life-changer for a lot of people. As Canada’s first black Chief of Surgery and an orphan, he instilled the entrepreneurial spirit in me. My mom was a nurse and was very involved in the community and a civil rights activist. She planted the seed to be an agent of change. I learned very early on that you can transform your circumstances.
I got into yoga when I was training as a professional dancer with Alvin Ailey. There, it was a requirement. I soon knew there was more I could offer. It taught me that your body is your instrument and I found a natural segue to start teaching people that (principle). I opened a studio once I got my certification and added my personal touch to it. So yoga and dance have never been separate.
I came to this whole idea of Afro Flow Yoga when my husband I traveled to West Africa after my father died. It was a way to connect to ancestry. Wanted to find out more about my roots. I began doing a lot of healing work and was invited to teach dance and yoga at the Raw Spirit Festival at Sedona. During meditation, I realized dance and yoga were fused instead of separate. I later found some drummers to add to the practice and it was epic and magical! I thought “this feels natural†and I started doing research and found that Yoga has a base in Africa.
What resources did you use to start and grow your business?
Initially it was all word of mouth, which was the most powerful marketing tool. It made me accountable to walking the talk. I used social media and my DVDs
also helped (in promoting my business). I also do a lot of speaking engagements and workshops. I also had to do some free classes to get it out thereWhat are some of the challenges you’ve faced during difficult economical times?
My business didn’t slow down too much but I couldn’t raise my prices. I had to keep things as they were. People were nervous about [spending money on Yoga]. Being a dancer in NYC was good training for economic challenges. So I tried not to have fear around it. I stayed very confident and supported my clients.
I found that it was also an opportunity to create more services. I usually do one-on-one sessions but I offered small group classes where people would split the cost but still have personal attention. I also had the AfroFlow Core Power and Core Strength DVDs so if someone couldn’t afford the one-on-one, they could do the DVD.
What are some of the challenges you face being an African-Canadian in the Yoga space?
The challenge is being aware of the health disparities in the black community and getting people of color in the class. AfroFlow has decent diversity but I’d love to see more.  I’ve been bringing up the lack of representation up to the Yoga community. This is where I can be of service.
There have been issues with Black folks and [their beliefs about] churches and yoga, so it’s been a challenge to get people to understand that yoga is great way to get closer to God and open your self up and use your Christianity.
We are so far away from our ancestry. African women are carrying babies and items on their heads and walking up mountains. That is yoga. It’s amazing what your bodies can do. We were taken from Africa for our “fitness†and we are so far away from that with the [prevalence of] obesity.  The yoga industry this isn’t supposed to be for privileged white people; this was an ancient tradition. That is why I feel very passionate about it and that has been my inspiration.
When doing yoga do you feel a greater spiritual connection and how do you incorporate that in your daily life?
I definitely do and it gives me to opportunity to create a clearing.  My biggest lesson from yoga was the practice of non-judgment.  At Afro Flow Yoga, anything goes there except for judgment. Let that stuff go and let yourself experience no matter where you are. I try to practice that day to day.
It’s mastery of mind, body and spirit. When I don’t do Yoga, I get tight and feel further away from spirit. The whole idea of ego can get in the way of the blessings.
How do you encourage/promote health and fitness specifically to African Americans?
I participated in a program at Mass General Hospital for inner city kids where we taught them about fitness, yoga, creating a vision and nutrition. It’s not just about the physical practice of yoga: there is a nutritional piece, spiritual piece, etc. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, I participate in a program for women of color called the She Network.  The biggest issue for me is the sustainability and being able to offer good quality programs that are affordable.
What are your plans for the future?
I just started Yoga certification program. The challenge is being the only person teaching and if you get a weekly class going you have to keep the momentum going. I would also like to work in Africa. There are also plans for an Afro Flow Yoga [practice] for youth and a DVD. We also have social missions, which will always be a piece of our business.
Connect with Leslie Salmon-Jones on Facebook and Twitter.
Next in our Yogapreneur Series: Canada’s Dianne Bondy.