Black History Month is an annual celebration of the past, present, and future of Black people in America.
This month, Best Buy is proud to highlight the stories of our Black employees with events like Trap Yoga, as we continue cultivating an inclusive culture.
Throughout our company, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been created to provide a space for diverse employees to come together in one place, providing allyship and community within Best Buy. One of those ERGs is our Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) that is made up of more than 1,300 members. ERG members have access to development and networking opportunities year-around.
For the third year in a row, to connect and promote the health and wellness of our employees, the BERG hosted yoga instructor Gabrielle Roberts to teach a Trap Yoga class. The class incorporates all the same foundations and movements as any yoga class, but with trap music in the background, a subgenre of hip hop.
After 400+ hours of yoga instructor training, Gabrielle realized that she wanted to make yoga accessible for all, so she created 612 Jungle, a place for everyone to feel welcome, comfortable, and included. 612 Jungle is the first and only hip hop yoga studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“There is this stigma that yoga has to sound a certain way when in fact it doesn’t,” said Gabrielle. “Some people like to listen to Beethoven or something more ambient, and some people prefer Lil Baby or Beyonce. Music shouldn’t be a barrier in a practice that’s meant to connect.”
The BERG offers opportunities for members to connect with a variety of events throughout the year.
“This is Gabrielle’s third year teaching Trap Yoga, and she always does a great job setting the tone for our Black History Month celebration,” said BERG leader Delphanie Daniels. “Self-care and rest are integral to maintaining mental and physical wellness for our Black employees, especially now, so we enjoy her sharing her talents, while vibing to Trap Music — it’s the best!”
612 Jungle is a Black + women owned business located in Minneapolis, MN that offers virtual and in-studio classes at every level.
See additional ways Best Buy is celebrating Black culture here. To learn about other actions Best Buy is taking to support inclusion and diversity, click here.