Kemetic Yoga
A lineage-rooted practice of breath, alignment, and ancient memory
Rooted in Ancient Temple Teachings
Kemetic Yoga, as taught in our community, follows the system developed by Yirser Ra Hotep, a pioneer in interpreting ancient Egyptian temple reliefs as a coherent record of embodied practice. His work proposes that these carved figures are not stylized art, but instructions - a visual archive of postures, breath patterns, and energetic principles preserved in stone.
This lineage approaches those reliefs as living teachings, intentionally designed as archetypal somatic alignments to cultivate a steadiness of mind and spaciousness of breath.
Continuous-Flow and Breath-Led Movement
Unlike many modern yoga styles, Kemetic Yoga does not hold poses. The practice is a continuous, breath-led flow, where the transitions themselves are the heart of the work.
Awareness rests in the in‑between - the subtle shift of weight, the lengthening of breath, the moment the spine reorganizes itself into alignment.
This emphasis on transition:
Encourages a sense of internal calm
Builds internal steadiness without strain
Encourages presence rather than performance
Invites the practitioner into a state of quiet, grounded attention
It is a practice of flowing remembrance, not static shapes.
Our Lineage: Training with Yirser Ra Hotep
Our founding priestess, Ali Montgomery, studied Kemetic Yoga in Egypt and completed her instructor certification directly with Yirser Ra Hotep. Her teaching is rooted in:
Lineage accountability - honoring the African origins of this practice
Trauma-aware movement practice - shaped by her lived experience and training
Queer-affirming embodiment - spacious enough for every body and every gender
Ritual integration - weaving breath and movement into devotional practice
Why Kemetic Yoga Belongs in the Temple - Supporting Ritual and Devotional Integration
In our community, embodiment is not separate from devotion. Movement is prayer. Breath is invocation. Stillness is a doorway.
Kemetic Yoga offers a somatic pathway into the qualities of Sekhmet, evoking clarity, courage, sovereignty, and the fierce compassion that arises when the body remembers it is held and softens into presence.
It supports:
Gentle unwinding of held tension through slow, regulated movement
Energetic alignment for ritual work
Grounding before meditation or trance
Integration after deep spiritual processes
This practice is one of the ways we prepare the body to meet the Goddess.
Join Our Kemetic Yoga Practice
Ali offers Kemetic Yoga classes seasonally, both online and in person, with sessions periodically hosted at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. All bodies, all genders, and all levels of experience are welcome.
Sekhmet - Pleasure Is Our Prayer, the Body Is Our Altar.