![]() ![]() Many different healing techniques are incorporated into her yoga classes. Asking themselves, am I welcome here? Is this a space where I can just be me?” A white person walking into an all-Black studio would probably feel the same. “If my daughter–a queer Black woman–walked into an all-White studio, she’d be very uncomfortable. ![]() “People don’t have to identify themselves when they show up,” Duncan said. Duncan knowns that many of the people the Sanctuary serves have metabolized trauma in different ways. Much of the work at Urban Sanctuary is informed by trauma. You can still see an urn engraved in the building’s roof. Before the space was a speakeasy, it was a poolhall her father frequented when he was in the military and - even before that - a mortuary. It’s a powerful metaphor for the healing community she’s created–from the ashes of her own story, to the literal ashes of the building Urban Sanctuary now inhabits. Urban Sanctuary’s logo includes a lotus flower, a traditional symbol of peace, unity and rebirth. “Where they vibe with a teacher who they identify with and they can have their own community within Urban Sanctuary.” “I wanted to create a safe, brave space where people can show up and be themselves,” she said. “She’s a queer Black woman and I love it.” She reflected, “If there had been a space like Urban Sanctuary for her, it would have made all the difference.”ĭuncan hopes that Urban Sanctuary can be that place for the people she serves. As her children grew up, Duncan knew her daughter was a lesbian and, looking back she reflects on how she could have handled things differently. There was no room for different lifestyle choices. When she moved to the city as an adult, however, she couldn’t find the Black wellness community that she was craving.ĭuncan was raised in a strict Christian household and, after having her first child at 17, she raised her as she had been raised. To her childhood eyes, Denver was the picture of diversity. Both she and her husband quit law enforcement and moved to Denver.Īs a kid, Duncan’s father would drive the family to Denver every month to attend a Black church. After 10 years as a cop, she realized that her vision for her life wasn’t aligning with her career anymore. She took a summer off in the late ’90s to get her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in India and when she returned, she found that yoga, energy work and Reiki were all things that could benefit her coworkers at the police department. In her twenties, Duncan became the first Black, woman police officer in Fort Collins. She and her siblings were the only Black kids in their school. Growing up in Fort Collins, her father was the second Black man in town. Duncan has created the sanctuary she wanted to see in Colorado - for herself and her children. The studio offers designated LGBTQ+ classes and BIPOC classes, in addition to workshops for specific communities. It’s such an eclectic mix of different groups all within Urban Sanctuary.” “We have white girls who show up and do their thing, we have Black women, we have gay men. ![]() “Our community is completely across the board,” Duncan mused. The offerings are abundant and ensure that you’ll find a space that fits regardless of your background and identity. Duncan is even experimenting with Zoom bedtime stories. As one of Denver’s only Black-owned yoga studios, you’ll find everything from energy work to Thai massage to counseling and yoga. The doors to Urban Sanctuary opened in October 2016 and since then Duncan and her team of wellness professionals have created a space where all sorts of communities have been able to feel welcome and at home. ![]()
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