Black History Month
Celebrating Black Voices in Wellness
One of the most common criticisms of the fitness and wellness industries—and the communities they welcome—is that they are largely white. And while there is certainly a lot of truth to this, we think it overlooks an important fact: Diverse groups and individuals have participated in and played a major role in shaping fitness and wellness—both throughout history and in the present.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be celebrating Black voices throughout February, both in the larger fitness and wellness space and right here in our own barre3 community. Today, we’re kicking off with a round-up of inspirational Black voices in the wellness industry, from big names you’ll recognize right away to up-and-comers just emerging on the scene. Read on for our list and tune into the magazine and Instagram all month for more content celebrating Black History Month, including an update on our work at barre3 around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), features on Black members of our community, and more.
Rosa Parks
Yes, that Rosa Parks! The iconic activist who worked tirelessly for civil rights was also dedicated to caring for herself, both body and mind. In a memoir written by Park’s niece Sheila McCauley, we learn that Parks practiced yoga as early as the 1960s. In fact, a photo of her practicing is currently on display at the Library of Congress!
Michelle Obama
As first lady, Michelle Obama initiated an important national conversation around health and wellbeing. Starting with the White House Kitchen Garden and culminating in her Let’s Move program, she dedicated her efforts to helping kids and families lead healthier lives. From healthier lunches to increased physical activity, Obama’s work helped create much-needed change in public schools throughout the country.
Vanessa Garrison and Tanya Morgan Dixon
Back in 2010, college friends Vanessa Garrison and Tanya Morgan Dixon challenged their friends and families to walk with them—and GirlTrek was born. By 2012, women around the country were organizing GirlTrek walks, and the organization officially became a nonprofit. The following years brought a 15,000-person-strong walk on the National Mall to honor Harriet Tubman, attention from the national press, and an invite to the White House from none other than Michelle Obama herself. While the physical health of their community is at the heart of the movement, the organization is about more than that. “We walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhoods,” the founders explain.
Trinity Mouzon Wofford
Trinity Mouzon Wofford is the co-founder and visionary behind the buzzy health brand Golde (you’ve definitely seen their vitamin-packed elixirs and face masks on Instagram). Trinity began Golde in 2017 with the mission of increasing the inclusivity of wellness and accessibility to superfoods. Starting the business in her 1-bedroom apartment, Trinity now leads a “small-but-mighty” team and shares Golde with thousands of dedicated fans. The youngest Black woman to launch a line at Sephora, Trinity is disrupting the wellness industry with her innovative approach to skincare, living by the belief that self-love starts from within.
Jessamyn Stanley
To her half a million followers on Instagram (and the many others who look to her for body-positive inspiration), Jessamyn Stanley is a powerful voice in creating a more inclusive yoga community. A renowned yoga instructor, writer and body-positive advocate, Jessamyn’s classes support students in celebrating the profound and freeing experience of being in their bodies. You can find her book, Every Body Yoga wherever books are sold, and be on the lookout for her new book, Yoke coming out in June.
Christina Rice
When Christina Rice began to experience burn-out after building a successful career as a PR executive and entrepreneur, she decided to get her yoga teacher certification. But right away she noticed something disconcerting: She was the only Black woman in her class of about 50 students. Her realization ultimately inspired her to launch OMNoire, a social wellness platform for women of color. Through her online community, destination retreats, and her first-ever virtual retreat, Rice encourages women to discover wellness on their own terms rather than following what works for someone else.
Jasmine Marie
Jasmine Marie is well-versed in the transformative power of breathwork. The founder of Black Girls Breathing and a breathwork practitioner, Jasmine began the inclusive wellness platform in 2018 to support Black women in their healing journeys through meditation-based breathwork classes. Tailoring the workshops and practices to Black women’s needs, Jasmine’s work creates space and opportunity for marginalized individuals to get grounded, find community, and connect with themselves.
Anjelica Malone
Anjelica Malone’s professional journey began back in 2010, when she volunteered as a prenatal, birth, and postpartum mentor to refugee and lower-income women. Fascinated with the idea of comprehensive prenatal and postpartum support, she went on to become a doula, lactation professional, and perinatal educator, and she’s currently in graduate school to become a midwife. Her goal: to provide culturally sensitive support to women as they journey through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Last year, Malone launched The American Midwife Series, a podcast that she hopes will spark a revolution that makes a midwife available to every pregnant person who desires to have one. Ultimately, she hopes to see midwifery become a part of standard maternity care in the U.S., a shift that could halt our increasing maternal mortality rate.
At barre3, we’re committed to listening, learning, and continually taking steps to making fitness more accessible and inclusive. Join the community by finding your local studio or get started with 15 days of barre3 online, free.
One of the most common criticisms of the fitness and wellness industries—and the communities they welcome—is that they are largely white. And while there is certainly a lot of truth to this, we think it overlooks an important fact: Diverse groups and individuals have participated in and played a major role in shaping fitness and wellness—both throughout history and in the present.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be celebrating Black voices throughout February, both in the larger fitness and wellness space and right here in our own barre3 community. Today, we’re kicking off with a round-up of inspirational Black voices in the wellness industry, from big names you’ll recognize right away to up-and-comers just emerging on the scene. Read on for our list and tune into the magazine and Instagram all month for more content celebrating Black History Month, including an update on our work at barre3 around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), features on Black members of our community, and more.
Rosa Parks
Yes, that Rosa Parks! The iconic activist who worked tirelessly for civil rights was also dedicated to caring for herself, both body and mind. In a memoir written by Park’s niece Sheila McCauley, we learn that Parks practiced yoga as early as the 1960s. In fact, a photo of her practicing is currently on display at the Library of Congress!
Michelle Obama
As first lady, Michelle Obama initiated an important national conversation around health and wellbeing. Starting with the White House Kitchen Garden and culminating in her Let’s Move program, she dedicated her efforts to helping kids and families lead healthier lives. From healthier lunches to increased physical activity, Obama’s work helped create much-needed change in public schools throughout the country.
Vanessa Garrison and Tanya Morgan Dixon
Back in 2010, college friends Vanessa Garrison and Tanya Morgan Dixon challenged their friends and families to walk with them—and GirlTrek was born. By 2012, women around the country were organizing GirlTrek walks, and the organization officially became a nonprofit. The following years brought a 15,000-person-strong walk on the National Mall to honor Harriet Tubman, attention from the national press, and an invite to the White House from none other than Michelle Obama herself. While the physical health of their community is at the heart of the movement, the organization is about more than that. “We walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhoods,” the founders explain.
Trinity Mouzon Wofford
Trinity Mouzon Wofford is the co-founder and visionary behind the buzzy health brand Golde (you’ve definitely seen their vitamin-packed elixirs and face masks on Instagram). Trinity began Golde in 2017 with the mission of increasing the inclusivity of wellness and accessibility to superfoods. Starting the business in her 1-bedroom apartment, Trinity now leads a “small-but-mighty” team and shares Golde with thousands of dedicated fans. The youngest Black woman to launch a line at Sephora, Trinity is disrupting the wellness industry with her innovative approach to skincare, living by the belief that self-love starts from within.
Jessamyn Stanley
To her half a million followers on Instagram (and the many others who look to her for body-positive inspiration), Jessamyn Stanley is a powerful voice in creating a more inclusive yoga community. A renowned yoga instructor, writer and body-positive advocate, Jessamyn’s classes support students in celebrating the profound and freeing experience of being in their bodies. You can find her book, Every Body Yoga wherever books are sold, and be on the lookout for her new book, Yoke coming out in June.
Christina Rice
When Christina Rice began to experience burn-out after building a successful career as a PR executive and entrepreneur, she decided to get her yoga teacher certification. But right away she noticed something disconcerting: She was the only Black woman in her class of about 50 students. Her realization ultimately inspired her to launch OMNoire, a social wellness platform for women of color. Through her online community, destination retreats, and her first-ever virtual retreat, Rice encourages women to discover wellness on their own terms rather than following what works for someone else.
Jasmine Marie
Jasmine Marie is well-versed in the transformative power of breathwork. The founder of Black Girls Breathing and a breathwork practitioner, Jasmine began the inclusive wellness platform in 2018 to support Black women in their healing journeys through meditation-based breathwork classes. Tailoring the workshops and practices to Black women’s needs, Jasmine’s work creates space and opportunity for marginalized individuals to get grounded, find community, and connect with themselves.
Anjelica Malone
Anjelica Malone’s professional journey began back in 2010, when she volunteered as a prenatal, birth, and postpartum mentor to refugee and lower-income women. Fascinated with the idea of comprehensive prenatal and postpartum support, she went on to become a doula, lactation professional, and perinatal educator, and she’s currently in graduate school to become a midwife. Her goal: to provide culturally sensitive support to women as they journey through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Last year, Malone launched The American Midwife Series, a podcast that she hopes will spark a revolution that makes a midwife available to every pregnant person who desires to have one. Ultimately, she hopes to see midwifery become a part of standard maternity care in the U.S., a shift that could halt our increasing maternal mortality rate.
At barre3, we’re committed to listening, learning, and continually taking steps to making fitness more accessible and inclusive. Join the community by finding your local studio or get started with 15 days of barre3 online, free.
