Retreat, recharge, reinvent: How wellness retreats for Black women can rejuvenate and heal body and soul
It was all getting to be too much.
The constant stream of outrageous and tragic news, the daily grind of COVID-19 and missing the close company of treasured friends and family, all while recovering from a brutal year of breast cancer treatment left me feeling fraught, frazzled and fatigued. I felt too close to a breaking point that I had never experienced before. It was time to get away.
“You’re fully vaxxed,” my therapist reminded me. “Why don’t you take some time for yourself, and just for yourself, to create an inventory of what you need to heal? Don’t buy into the myth of the strong Black woman,” she said. “We do what we must but what we must do is attend to ourselves first, before we can give to the job, give to our families, be there for our friends and attend to the multiple facets of our lives.” It’s essential to get ample amounts of deep rest and let wisdom bubble up from the deepest part of the soul, I’d learned from Octavia Raheem. Audre Lorde said that self-care was a radical act of political warfare. It affects the very way we move about in the world.
What bubbled up was, go. A solo road trip from Atlanta to Austin, with a stop to nourish in New Orleans—one of the most soulful cities I know—revealed what I was craving. Beyond beignets and bubble baths, I needed my closest girlfriends to help the healing. It turns out they needed the same. So I planned a wellness retreat.
What is a Wellness Retreat for Black Women?
Wellness retreats can take different forms, but essentially, it is an intentional withdrawal from everyday life to tend to the deepest level of ourselves, to discover what we need and to return with a practice, a plan and a commitment to continue tending our own inner gardens. We do this for the nourishment of our own spirits and so that we can then give to others from a full cup. Retreats are a thoughtfully curated safe space and time where Black women can gather and cultivate healing.
“Retreats offer an opportunity to get away from everyday life obligations and focus on resting, relaxing and rejuvenating,” said Tamara Jeffries, yoga teacher and senior editor at Yoga Journal magazine. “I think of it as a spiritual time to rest, become more in touch with yourself and empowered to prioritize self-care in everyday life.
How to design and curate a wellness retreat
Who
Think carefully about the blend of women you want to bring together and do an informal survey. I always ask, what do you need right now? How long can you get away? What can you afford? If you’re thinking of hosting the retreat yourself, consider keeping it to a small group—especially if it is your first time—so that you’re not overwhelmed.
What
Based on what your group needs, build a light program (emphasis on light, most of us are scheduled to our eyeballs and the opportunity to do nothing except gaze into the ocean or relax in a garden is priceless) that includes a physical practice like yoga, yoga nidra or dance, and a spiritual exercise like meditation, prayer, journaling, a sacred fire ceremony and a calling of the ancestors.
When
A retreat can cost as much or little as you like and be inclusive of people at all income levels. I’ve hosted weekend afternoon retreats at my home with everyone bringing a healthy dish and also weeklong retreats at luxury, all-inclusive resorts where every amenity is provided.
Where
Your retreat needs to be somewhere beautiful, accessible and comfortable. Water is soothing, but if a pool, ocean, lake, waterfall or river isn’t available, consider a small water fountain or an ocean waves soundtrack. Make sure to include a light, healthy meal and avoid serving alcohol. Opt instead for refreshing agua frescas and infused or plain water. A healthy Black woman is a well-hydrated one!
Why
Tamara Jeffries said it best. “There’s just something about the shorthand of being in community with people who share your experiences,” she explained. That is true for Black women, the LGBTQ+ community, other people of color or any intentional intersectional community. “If the stated intention is that this is going to be a place where I can go and be myself, I don’t anticipate anybody misunderstanding anything that has to do with my hair or asking me about my bonnet!” A wellness retreat for us, by us, means that shared cultural touchstones can make it easier to relax into the full experience.
K. Anoa Monsho is a creative writer, journalist, multi-media storyteller, director, and editor with a strong interest in travel, Black health and wellness, and cultural arts. She believes in the life-giving, life-healing power of sharing true stories and that travel begins in the imagination.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Retreat, recharge, reinvent: How wellness retreats for Black women can rejuvenate and heal body and soul."