Oak Cliff native Ebony Smith is helping bring yoga and instruction on maintaining a healthy mindset to underserved communities of Dallas. 

About seven years ago, Smith discovered a love for the healing practices of yoga, though she couldn’t help but feel a cultural gap between her and other yoga-goers, The Dallas Morning News reported. Smith said she observed a lack of people of color at the yoga classes.

“There was something about it that I absolutely loved,” Smith told the Morning News. “But I didn’t like going to practice, because nobody ever looked like me and I just always kind of felt awkward.”

The Mindful School Bus will reach kids across North Texas and give them lessons inside the fixed-up vehicle. 

In 2014, Smith took matters into her own hands and founded Yoga N Da Hood in Oak Cliff. Through her instruction, she places importance on the aspects of self-care and self-love that yoga can help with. Smith also hosts four free classes a week to those who want to participate, but don’t have the means to pay.

On Thursdays, Smith gives free classes and workshops at Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas. Smith told the Morning News it was her upbringing that compelled her to help other people like her. She said Girls Inc. helped her as a young girl while she struggled with her mental health after abuse. 

Smith’s mentor and Sync Yoga and Wellbeing Co-owner Jennifer Lawson, told the Morning News, “It’s kind of like Starbucks these days — there’s a yoga studio everywhere. But definitely in South Dallas [it’s] more rare to find that.” 

Smith’s contributions in overlooked communities don’t stop at free yoga classes and workshops.

While she continues to nurture and grow Yoga N Da Hood, Smith is also planning to buy a school bus to renovate into a mobile yoga studio, the newspaper reported. The Mindful School Bus will reach kids across North Texas and give them lessons inside the fixed-up vehicle. 

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