A CALL to action for Black women to prioritize their self-care and rest has been launched through a new social media wellness campaign

The #BlackWomenRestinginto2023 created  by Mindwalk Yoga, the UK’s first online yoga studio led by Black and Black-mixed heritage women will highlight the critical need of taking the time to focus well-being and mental health while offering an alternative to a UK wellness industry largely lacking in diversity.

The campaign is aiming encourage women of colour to explore yoga as a means of supporting their wellbeing, despite the yoga and wellbeing spaces often being viewed as predominantly white.

Self-care

The launch of  #BlackWomenRestinginto2023 follows a survey conducted last year by Black and Black-mixed women by MindWalk Yoga and Dope Black Women which found that while self-care is more vital than ever, true relaxation remains elusive for many with Black women more likely to report feeling more overwhelmed and burned out than their white counterparts.

The survey found that over the last 12 months 82 per cent of the respondents questioned suffered from stress; 80 per cent experienced anxiety, 59 per cent reported burn-out and 55 per cent suffered from insomnia. 

The campaign has won the support of prominent Black British women in the UK including leading among others entrepreneur Lydia Amoah, Founder of The Black Pound Report and paralympian Vanessa Wallace.

Anxiety

Zakiya Bishton, Founder of MindWalk Yoga and teacher specialising in yoga therapy for anxiety said: “The importance of yoga and rest to support anxiety and burnout is essential but can feel inaccessible to Black and Black-mixed heritage women. We need affordable spaces led by and for us to experience healing and nourishing practices. The many roles we have while navigating racism and discrimination mean we often have to sideline self-care to keep going, but it’s harmful to our mental and physical wellbeing.” 

Mindwalk Yoga was set up in 2021 as an online yoga studio dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where Black women are represented.

However their representation in mainstream yoga continues to be a problem. According to the Mindwalk Yoga and Dope Black Women survey 90 per cent of respondents said they don’t see themselves reflected in these spaces. Of those who had attended practices, 44 per cent claimed that they felt ‘out of place’, like they ‘didn’t belong’ or ‘unwelcome’ in those settings.

Diverse

Also, access and inclusivity were still lacking, as 77 per cent of Black women said there weren’t enough practices run by and for Black/diverse people. Over 70 per cent of respondents to the the Mindwalk Yoga and Dope Black Women survey said there aren’t enough Black/diverse yoga instructors and 65 per cent said the classes weren’t affordable. 

Roshan Roberts, Co-Founder of Dope Black Women, said: “I can think of Black runners, Black tennis players, Black netball players but I can’t think of Black yogis. Not even friends or relatives.

“Whilst I know they exist, many women Black especially, don’t see themselves represented so don’t feel like it’s a place or environment for them. It’s considered a “White thing”, and this perception is gatekeeping a lot of women who look like me, from improving their physical and mental health through accessing yoga.”

Oya Heart Warrior – Founder of Unapologetically Black Yoga, who is also a supporter of the campaign. She said:  “The image of the thin, flexible, white woman clad in Lycra doing the splits, leaves many Black people feeling yoga is a closed shop that’s not for them. Black people are tired of simply surviving and being strong.

Thrive

“They want access to inclusive, accessible yoga  practices that understand who they are and support them with tenderness to feel valued and to thrive.”

Paralympian Vanessa Wallace said: “Quite often, the yoga ‘scene’ doesn’t always allow Black people to feel or be seen. That is why I am supporting this campaign and would love to see more Black people represented in yoga, which may hopefully inspire more of us to discover its amazing benefits.”