Meet Mary Mbaba

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Mbaba.

Hi Mary, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began practicing yoga in 2005. It was the summer after undergrad and I did not have a job so I moved back home with my parents. My little sister had a Nintendo Wii and this was the device that I used in my first yoga practice. Since then, yoga has been a part of my life as a means to reduce stress, anxiety, and other negative mental health symptoms. 16 years later, I am now studying ways – as part of my doctoral dissertation – to increase Black people’s participation in yoga practice.

I completed my first graduate school program at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health from 2010-2012. This is where I began research working with criminal justice populations, individuals at risk for HIV, and substance users. My master’s thesis focused on the pre-determining factors influencing suicides in jail. When I graduated with this degree (MPH) in 2012, I moved to Washington, D.C. to continue my career as a social and behavioral health researcher. Here is where I published research on and worked with 1) opioid-dependent populations and 2) Black gay, bisexual, and same gender loving men.

I am also a photographer interested in documenting natural landscapes, architecture, city life, and particularly how Black people interact with their environmental space in a healthy fashion. I have been photographing since high school (remember disposable film cameras?). In college, my mother bought my first digital MegaPixel camera where I documented my college life with friends. In 2015, I bought my first DSLR camera and began shooting all things of interest to me in DC – museum visits, park adventures, musicians, concerts, government buildings, and art events. During this same time, I began making a lot of photographer friends and began modeling in photoshoots doing yoga poses. Since my beginning days as a photographer, I have honed my skills by incorporating lighting set ups (as of Oct. 2020).

I quit my full-time job in summer 2016 and lived off my retirement savings for a couple of months. Soon after, I completed my yoga teacher training in Oct 2016 – three years after I first started teaching yoga. I have now been teaching yoga for eight years. December 2016 is when I created Vinyl & Vinyasa – a monthly yoga pop up hosted at local music venues (Songbyrd in Washington, D.C.) that incorporates vinyl music spun by a DJ while individuals practice yoga under my instruction.

In 2017, I started my doctoral program in Applied Social Psychology at the George Washington University and am currently a doctoral candidate working on my dissertation.

I moved back to my home city of Atlanta on July 31, 2021. In addition, I have teamed up with my music producer to work on some upcoming meditation music. All this in line with my overall goal and mission to increase Black and other minoritized people’s access to diverse healing spaces and modalities. I still continue to publish academic research related to intersectionality, mental health, HIV prevention, and substance use.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. One main challenge along the way is sticking to my goals and vision despite some negative talk and discouragement from friends, family, and those who I once thought were in my corner. I learned that my vision is so unique that not everyone is going to understand it. Another main challenge has been adjusting to new places each time I move. Luckily, I have a great support system who have eased the transitional phase for me.

Another struggle of being a student and a creative is limited funding and limited time to complete passion projects. Everyday is busy so I intentionally find balance by incorporating self-care techniques throughout my day and staying as organized as possible. Collaborating with the right people has always been a challenge but not one that I could not overcome. When you follow the path that is right for you, the right people and opportunities enter into your life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer, model, meditation artist, yoga instructor, social psychologist, and public health researcher. I am known for all these things. And importantly, I am known for creating Vinyl & Vinyasa – an event curation and mindfulness production company.

I specialize in mental health and how to incorporate self-care techniques like breathwork, meditation, and yoga for Black people’s radical healing.

I am most proud of how I balance my passions into a meaningful identity that inspires other people to do the same.

I have a very special mind. What sets me apart is that I have a diverse skill set and a myriad of interests – both psychological research skills/interests and creative skills/interests. My unique take on the world shows up in my research questions and the art that I create for the world to enjoy.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is defined as the freedom to be whoever one wants to be. Success is usually defined uniquely from person-to-person and fits according to people’s emotional/physical/spiritual needs, experiences, and future envisioning. Nobody can define your success but you. Success is the ability to breathe and be content in life wherever one may be.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.vinylvinyasa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary2thegame/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VinylAndVinyasa/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mary2thegame

Image Credits:
Image Credits/Photogrtaphers: Wildy Civil (@nikonpapi) Nick Moreland (@nickmorelandphoto) Carnegie Captures (@carnegie__)