Black Lives Matter is an issue of wellness.
We are all one. This is the core teaching of Yoga, which means “unity.” When one of us hurts, all of us hurt—whether or not we realize it.
As a non-Black person in America, I have woken up further and realized that unless I step up and become actively anti-racist, I am part of a system that delivers oppression and pain. I have always considered myself “not racist” (I put in quotes because unfortunately we have all been programmed by our societies to be a little bit racist, which is something we must shine a light on), but being just not racist is not enough if we want to change this world for the better.
By the way, you should read How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, and why not buy it from this Black-owned local Los Angeles small bookstore.
The mental health effects of generations of trauma runs deep in the Black community. This means that none of us are well until this massive suffering ends. It will take time, and dedication, and real thoughtful action on our parts. It’s a big ask, actually. We’re being called to get uncomfortable.
ut that’s where all the magic in life occurs.
We must fight in the name of LOVE.
I am a POC (Latina, half), and if we can begin to break down the oppression in our country of Black Americans, all minorities will rise up. Including women and the LGBTQIA community! It’s like blowing up a huge dam that will return nourishing water to dying riverbeds, making the way for more equality.
Baby steps of progress. We must stay committed to asking: What would Love have me do?
If we do not do something to change what IS, we are allowing systemic racism and violence to continue.
Please share this list of Black leaders in the Spiritual + Wellness space.
This is a small but hopefully helpful way I can help start to make change. The Wellness world is flourishing, and has also become a mostly white space, especially here in Southern California. Every yoga teacher training, every class I’ve led, every yoga festival I’ve attended, has been a sea of predominately white faces. That absolutely must change. Wellness should be accessible and inclusive to everyone. We should all be entitled to have the freedom to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Black voices need to be amplified!
Please use the following Black teachers as valuable resources to help you continue your growth and health journey. They all have a wealth of wisdom to share.
This is my personal list, and I would love for it to grow beyond my admittedly small scope of my Black colleagues. Please Comment below with additional leaders that I missed!
I’ve divided them by the same categories as this blog: Mind (helping mental health and spiritual/wellbeing growth), Body (helping the physical body heal), and Yoga (helping through the specific lens of the Yoga practice).
Please take advantage of their wisdom and teachings so that we may collectively learn, evolve, and heal.
BLACK WELLNESS LEADERS LIST
You can find their Instagrams by clicking on their names, which are alphabetized by first name.
MIND
Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams
Reverend / Zen priest rockstar, Radical Dharma co-author
Alex Elle
Writer, mental health artist, and wellness consultant
Cleo Wade
Writer, poet, wise self-love champion
Justin Michael Williams
Meditation writer, speaker, musician
Lama Rod Owens
Self-liberation writer, the next generation of Buddhism and Dharma teachers
Light Watkins
Meditation teacher and mindfulness speaker
Meghan Watson
Registered Psychotherapist specializing in mood, anxiety, and eating disorders
Morgan Harper Nichols
Artist creating work that offers self-help wisdom
OlanikeeOsi
Self love teacher, Selfish Babe, and creator of Goddess Detox
Preston Smiles
Personal Freedom Coach and inspirational writer
Rha Goddess
Self-Help/Spiritual writer and creator of coaching source Move the Crowd
Tori Washington
Spiritual lifestyle educator and business strategist, energy healer
BODY
Psst: Here’s an awesome list of Black Healthy Chefs and Food Bloggers from Melanin Is Life
BLK+GRN
Non-toxic, all-natural online marketplace by all Black artisans
Chrissy King
Personal Trainer and Body Image/Lifestyle Coach
Jasmine Marie
Breathwork facilitator at Black Girls Breathing (offering virtual circles)
Maryam Ajayi
Energy healer, entrepreneur, writer, activist, speaker, creator of Dive In Well
Omikunle Ekundayo
Creator of The Soulcare Collective, “initiating self + planetary multidimensional wellness via African + Indigenous healing modalities”
YOGA
Camai Brandenberg
DaLette Anderson
Yoga teacher, athlete trainer, dancer
Gail Parker
Psychologist, yoga educator, writer
Jessamyn Stanley
Yoga teacher, body positivity advocate, activist, writer,
Koya Webb
Yoga teacher, holistic health coach, writer
Nicola Cardoza
Mindfulness and yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, founder of both Yoga Foster and Reclamation Ventures
Sara Clark
Yoga teacher, mindfulness coach
Shirley Johnson
Kundalini Yoga teacher, Licensed Psychotherapist, energy worker, Tantra coach
Tracee Stanley
Yoga and Meditation teacher and transformation guide