I didn't wake up one day with the profound thought that I had been completely mistreating my body, mind and spirit. However, looking back I cannot believe some of my former habits from my childhood through my late twenties. Growing up, I never thought about what I ate, only to eat it "in moderation," as my mother would say. I didn't think about the dangers of the chemicals in a relaxer, glitter eyeliner, acrylic nails or baby powder. Nor did I consider the power of my thoughts, meditation or the energy of my spaces. I worked out occasionally, yet could barely muster up enough energy to properly recycle. Simply put, looking at past me today—I was a disaster.
Much of that time, I subscribed to the idea that 'black people don't do that.' We don't eat pasta salad, organic, grass fed, macrobiotic, sushi or read any kind of food label. Vegan is a curse word and a lifestyle that veers toward healthy is considered bland, over-indulgent and self-important.
Yet, somehow wellness found me and I grew in it. Purifying myself and shedding negative habits became paramount as I reclaimed my beauty naturally, began eating clean, desired to become a yogi while purposefully taking moments to be grateful. Strangely, I then found myself juxtaposed between my understanding of my black culture and this new world of wellness. I remember visiting my mom and asking her to buy organic milk, her reply, “I like 2% milk – we don't do organic” (smh…I know).
Wellness could feel lonely because I rarely saw us in these spaces, cultivating these healing conversations. Instead of feeling apathetic toward the lack of representation, I decided to “be the change you wish to see" (Mahatma Gandhi), and created an online market of premium, non-toxic personal care, crafted distinctly by people of color, called LLAYERED, a dedicated space for our personal care brands inviting all to share in how we take care of our bodies.
On this journey, I have found I am not alone. There are many of us exploring what it means to be well and our voices are complex, informed and meaningful. If you have had trouble finding black faces on your wellness journey, then I'd like to introduce you to a few below.
Imagine that everything you consume, wear, enjoy in your life has been selected with real, unadulterated intention. This is the philosophy of Roe and Erin, the couple behind the Instagram page, @brownkids. Purposeful minimalists living a life of simplicity and sharing their lifestyle of less is more, vegan eating, sustainable consumption and personal introspection through beautiful photos and encouraging messages.
"Creating space for women of color to breathe easy," is the mantra of Black Girl In Om. According to their site, "Black Girl In Om promotes holistic wellness and inner beauty for women of color. We encourage self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment for communities of color. We affirm the consistent, preventative actions that cultivate a clear mind, a strong body, prosperous spirit, and inspiration in our environments. We learn and share wellness practices with one another, and through this work cultivate richer understandings of what it means to be healthy and beautiful from the inside out."
Black people are multi-dimensional beings. We are creative, thoughtful, caring and vibrational. We can center ourselves within asanas (yoga postures) while listening to trap music. No, seriously, we can and we do. Khepera Wellness specializes in trap yoga, basically power yoga set to trap music. Founder Brandon Copeland felt conspicuous in traditional yoga studios where many times he was the only black person. He opened Khepera Wellness in 2013 as a haven for black expression through yoga. Trap yoga, the class Khepera Wellness is most known for, has started to spread across the country as more and more want to experience the intersection between yoga and trap music.
What makes you smile? The revolutionary question being asked to black men across the country by Carlton Mackey, Creator and Devan Dunson, Co-Director of Black Men Smile. Black Men Smile was created in response to the killing of Michael Brown as a counter measure to the bevy of images of Brown's dead body and other depressing images of black men throughout the media. As explained on the site, "Black Men Smile because we love ourselves. This platform is about radical expressions of self-love. It is about resistance. It is about learning from each other. It is about encouraging one another. It is about transcending. It is about defying gravity, as our ancestors have always done, and leaving a legacy so that generations after us may do the same. During these times when so many stories are being told about us, we will need those we tell about ourselves to be our real truth".
Do you love nature and being outdoors? If so, Outdoor Afro is “the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature,” according to their website. Founded by Rue Mapp, Outdoor Afro is a non-profit organization created, as stated on their site, “to help people take better care of themselves, our communities and our planet,” while “leading the way for inclusion in outdoor recreation, nature and conservation for all.” Currently, Outdoor Afro can be found in 26 states, however, if you do not see a chapter in your state take the initiative and apply to become a community leader in your state.
Wellness should be perpetual, and we should utilize all available resources to live our best lives in relation to our individual experiences and aspirations. However, in any journey it is refreshing to see someone that feels familiar and perhaps more able to better understand my perspective. In our current social climate, I needed to feel connected not only to my inner voice, but to my community. I happily discovered we not only exist in the community of wellness, but we are many.
