Oge Egnuonu, whose documentary film is set to debut on OWN, shares how her yoga journey has influenced her filmmaking style, and how breathwork helps channel her vision.
Yogi-Filmmaker Oge Egbuonu on the Inspiration Behind Her Documentary and the Wellness Practices That Keep Her Grounded
Oge Egbuonu wasn’t expecting to end up in the filmmaking industry, let alone with a critically acclaimed documentary, (In)visible Portraits. The film, which focuses on breaking down the stereotypes placed upon Black women and girls through interviews with scholars and authors, is making its debut on the OWN Channel, March 2nd. “It’s about us remembering our worth. And understanding why certain stereotypes were put in place in the first place,” Egbuonu tells Vogue over the phone. “It’s important for me that folks remember who they are and their innate power.”
Before she started making films, Egbuonu was a yoga teacher. She began the practice after moving from Texas to L.A. through a communications job. “I realized how much racism, sexism, and homophobia the company had,” Egbuonu says. “I went through about three months of severe depression. I thought I made a huge mistake by moving, especially because I didn’t know anyone.” Then an acquaintance invited her to a restorative yoga class. “I remember being in this class and just bawling crying, from doing the breath work. I just became obsessed with it,” she says. She started going five times a week, then realized she wanted to start teaching. “I wanted to help heal my community,” she says.
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Akili King
