By Dr. Akilah Cadet
Workplace Diversity Consultant and Founder of changecadet.com
Let me first start by saying all black women should be known. But right now, we are going to focus on five amazing, beautiful, inspiring, black women to know in wellness.
Self-care, healing, meditation, crystals, workout classes, and the like, are standard topics of wellness. But as black women, it’s sometimes hard for us to know what it really is as we don’t always see US doing these types of “wellness things.” As I’m scrolling through Instagram, it often seems like the community is majorly filled with women of a certain body type, or who have bountiful blonde straight hair, and I’m even more perplexed when it seems like “wellness women” are taking more fitness classes without showcasing their full-time jobs. With this, it may seem like wellness is a thing of privilege, and I am here to tell you that you deserve that and more. So take a deep breath, clear your mind, and get ready to follow these new sources of inspiration.
1. The Medical Maven
Dr. Tiffany Lester, medical director of Parsley Health San Francisco, is also a health expert at Thoughtfully Magazine and a contributor to MindBodyGreen. Having trained in internal and functional medicine, she uses prevention, nutrition, and wellness to get to the bottom of disease. In addition to literally changing lives, Dr. Lester is a soon-to-be published author (The Unconscious Workout), a speaker and writer, and has great aspirational curls too.
2. The One Who Reminds Us to Just Breathe
By now, you’ve probably heard about Black Girl In Om which is why Lauren Ash is on this list. Ash is co-founder of Black Girl In Om — a podcast and lifestyle site supporting holistic wellbeing and inner beauty for women of color. As a yogi and meditation teacher, she uses her training in creating a lifestyle of mind (podcast), body (events), and soul (self-love). As a black woman who grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, she takes pride in teaching and encouraging other women of color about yoga and self-care. Black Girl In Om is believed to be the sound of the universe and Lauren gives us women of color the world.
3. The Self-Love ‘Shero’
Aminatou (Amina) Sow is amazing. She is co-founder of Call Your Girlfriend, a podcast that celebrates sisterhood, and being a woman through experiences and humanity. This type of support system is key as a black woman. It is important to have an outlet and know that you have someone who can listen to who talks about the hard day at work, pushes you to take the workout class, and well, tells you that you are beautiful. Sow is all those things in her podcast, but in real life too. She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in December 2017, and although caught early, is sharing her experiences going through treatment, staying positive, and all while still working. Talk about inspo! I mean, you know you’ve arrived when Hillary Clinton gives you a shout out.
4 & 5. The Delish Divas
Wendy Lopez and Jess Jones are two registered dietitians, certified diabetes educators, and are role models to women of color interested in pursuing degrees in nutrition. They are also the founders of Food Heaven Made Easy where they promote delicious and nutritious living, but more importantly are BFFs in real life too. Lopez and Jones promote and talk about healthy foods through their recipes, podcasts, and videos. Their cookbook The 28 Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot is designed to reset your body through plant-based recipes. If you don’t know where to start with a new diet try one of their meal plans.
These five women of color are showing everyone what the health and wellness community truly looks like. Being well does not mean we have to compromise our culture to fit the stereotypes of the wellness world, or have limited access or a lack of financial resources to be a part of it. These women have shown us the exact opposite.
So, try a yoga class, cook a new healthy recipe, listen to a podcast, and start your journey. But whatever you do, keep being black, beautiful, and remember to drink your water.
Dr. Akilah Cadet holds a Masters in Public Health and Doctorate in Health Science, Leadership, and Organizational Behavior. She works as a coach and consultant to increase and promote diversity in the workplace. You can learn more about her on her website and Instagram, @changecadet (Opens in a new window).
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