Change The World By Changing Ourselves with Oneika Mays

09/28/22 • 38 min

Oneika Mays has always been a seeker, even as a young child. She grew up in a stable family structure, went to good schools, and even landed in a fulfilling career she loved. But there was always something nagging at her, just below the surface: she wanted to trust herself, but couldn’t quite get there. Then, one day in yoga class, her instructor said “You can change or be comfortable, but not both.” As tears streamed down her face she realized she needed a change, and was ready to embrace the discomfort. Fast forward to today and Oneika is still a seeker, learning and transforming as she teaches yoga and meditation to individuals and groups both inside prison and on the outside. She has an amazing story - please join us to hear Oneika’s perfectly imperfect journey.

About Oneika Mays:

Oneika Mays (LMT, E-RYT) transitioned to yoga and meditation from a 20 year career in

corporate retail leadership over 10 years ago. Oneika used that experience to support social

justice non-profits and teach meditation/yoga inside jails. Today, she is the first Mindfulness

Coach at Rikers Island Correctional Facility. At Rikers she works one-on-one with community

members in a therapeutic setting. Sessions are a combination of modalities and are infused with

compassion. These sessions help people foster resilience and agency. She believes that our

justice system needs to focus on transformation and restoration rather than punishment. This

idea of liberation and compassion is woven into her work whether it’s in a jail, speaking to

audiences or teaching meditation. In addition to teaching meditation and yoga Oneika facilitates

workshops and trainings centered around resilience, liberation and compassion. She believes

that meditation, movement and mindfulness practices can forge a path to freedom.

Currently Oneika is working on a scripted project she created, Blur, a story about two atypical

teenagers navigating their identity in the 1980s. Her co-writer is Steven Mclaine. Oneika is

bringing meditation and yoga to Arizona as a featured presenter at the Sedona Yoga Festival.

She is also the co-host of the soon to be released podcast, But You Don’t Sound Black with

Rasheed J. Daniel. She can currently be seen on TBS’ Lost Resort.

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/oneikamays
Website: www.oneikamays.com

Featured presenter at Embodied Philosophy’s conference, “Radical Teaching.” Oneika’s talk is “Disrupting with Love.”
https://www.embodiedphilosophy.com/event/radical-teaching-roundup/

Board Member: One Love Prison Meditation Project: https://onelovepmp.org/

Projects in development:

Creator/Writer - BLUR

Production Company - TeamSheed

Producer- Rasheed J. Daniel

Consultant/Co-host - FREE SPIRIT

Producer- Ben Dwork

Creator- Becca Elrich

Contributor

Co-host Spiritual Citizenship Conference 2021- In Conversation with Cornel West

Faculty- Interdependence Project - Meditation Teacher Training

Featured