Serita Colette
Serita Colette is a nationally recognized Malayali-American educator and interdisciplinary artist sharing the art and science of Yoga & Ayurveda across the globe. Born during the monsoon season in Kerala, India, Serita was raised by their mother Kathleen Lettie and auntie Frances Colette in Mni Sota Makoce (MN).
In 2015 Serita established one of the first People of Color Yoga & Ayurveda practices in Minneapolis, MN. Over the past 8 years Serita builds Rest & Liberation Retreats™, workshops and panels around the world centering, Black and indigenous people, queer and trans people, and folks of color.
Serita currently leads Digital Sunset, based in Los Angeles with projects that cultivate cross cultural connection across the U.S. Digital sunset is an event series curated by Serita Colette to support cultural engagement, strategies and intervention with tech addiction, healing and connection in real life.
Roots of Practice
Serita’s practice intersects trauma relief, liberation, gender-race-class-sexuality, healing justice, mutual aid, bodywork and rest.
Their practice in radical care began at 19 running needle exchange programs in Venice, Los Angeles at Common Ground Westside Connection. Serita worked on body awareness programs that advocated for Black trans and queer people as well as establishing safe space for youth experiencing homelessness.
At 22 Serita practiced seed sovereignty under Ernie Whiteman (rest in power) and Diane Wilson of Dream of Wild Health. Serita continues to collaborate with food justice organizations advocating for healing and mental health programming. In 2020 Serita developed and facilitated a virtual healing justice retreat alongside Elandria Williams (may she rest in peace) for The Castanea Fellowship, a national food justice organization centering Black, brown and working class farmers and folks in seed sovereignty.
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Press
Rolling Stone Magazine
Voyage LA Magazine
Experience Life Magazine
MSP Magazine
Star Tribune: Qanon in Yoga
Minnesota Women’s Press
TC Pride Magazine: Feature
Star Tribune
TC Pride: Op-Ed
Minnesota Monthly Magazine
The Star Tribune: Healing Justice Feature
Featured In:
NIKE Surf Campagin 2023
Intersectional Environmentalist 2023
Artist Mereba: “Jungle Journals” 2020
Albuquerque Journal, TC Daily Planet, MSP Mag, Minnesota Public Radio 2016-2019
Performance
Serita has performed at The Walker Art Center, First Avenue Mainroom, The Cedar Cultural Center, St. Olaf College, The Fine Line MPLS, MN Museum of American Art & “Controlled Burn for a World On Fire” at Intermedia Arts.
Serita studied dance intensively since the age of four, music since age ten, and more recently puppetry and masks. Serita performed in the City of Lakes Ballet Company until 18 and returned to Kerala at twenty-two to study Kathakali from Ashaan Shiva Das of the world renowned Kalamandalam classical arts school in India. In college Serita performed alongside Angharad Davies, Ken Gonzales Day’s “Shadowlands” touring photography exhibition, and alongside SuperGroup, Diyah Larasati, and Sister Patricia Brown.
In 2019 Serita competed in International Gay & Lesbian Aquatic Championships on the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in NYC with the Subversive Sirens synchronized swim team winning Gold and Silver medals.
Serita is currently creating voiceover for creative and commercial work while teaching in Los Angeles, leading in person outdoor workshops, retreats, making guest appearances on podcasts, at wellness events, campuses, non-profits, and firms.
Client Roster
Tracee Stanley’s Empowered Life Circle, Minneapolis Foundation Catalyst Initiative, Queer Hike LA, Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center, Nexxus Community Partners, Beautywell, University of St. Thomas, Pollen Midwest, Minnesota Monthly, UofM-Chicanx Studies, Monkeybear Puppetry, Marnita’s Table, Twin Cities Daily Planet, One Yoga Mpls, Bisexual Organizing Project, Modus Locus, Soul Friday Mpls, The Aliveness Project
Leadership & Advanced Study
Sold Out QTBIPOC Rest & Liberation Retreat Sept 2022
Sold Out Yoga & Ayurveda Spring Renewal, Mpls May 2022
Sold Out Root Restore Reimagine Retreat for Women of Color 2022
QTBIPOC Rest & Liberation Retreat at Netflix Lone Rock Retreat Center 2022
Sold Out Sankalpa Workshop in Los Angeles 2022
MN Healing Conference 2021
Rest & Liberation: Trans Equity Summit 2021
BEAM: Black mental health and peer support certification 2021
3 Sold Out QTBIPOC Healing Workshops, KIPP 25th Anniversary w. guest speaker Ava Duvernay
3 Sold Out workshops at National Education Association: Conference on Racial & Social Justice
"Presence to Power," Leading two workshops and an un-conference
The first QTBIPOC Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Cohort
Seed Grantee Convening for the Catalyst Initiative
Allina Healthcare Grant
Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Social Justice Scholarship, UMN
Growing Power Scholarship with Will Allen, Women's Environmental Institute