Sisterhued Retreat at the Even Hotel

As the end of summer nears, many of us may find ourselves in need of a reset. Luckily for me, Sisterhued, a digital collective that connects women of color and brands, held a wellness retreat at the Even Hotel in the heart of downtown Brooklyn.

The fun-filled afternoon began with a mindfulness meditation session led by author and mindfulness teacher, Ananda Leeke.

Ananda Leeke guides the group through a mindfulness meditation.

Ananda Leeke guides the group through a mindfulness meditation.

After our meditation session, we transitioned into a panel discussion featuring the co-founders of Sisterhued (Shaniqua Garvin, Tiffani Greenaway, Danielle Wilson and Valerie Pierre) along with Charity Lynette of Curvy Chick Fitness and Allaya Cooks-Campbell of Yoga with Allaya and SBG's Mind editor. The discussion covered topics ranging from motherhood and anxiety to self-care methods and the importance of mental health.

Fun Tip: Journaling is a tried and true self-care method that allows us to reconnect with our thoughts and emotions. Give it a try!
The founders of Sisterhued.

The founders of Sisterhued.

After the panel, we toured the Evens Hotel, a fitness oriented hotel for wellness-conscious guests. We were guided through their state-of-the-art fitness facilities. We even visited the master suite, which included an exercise bike, yoga ball and yoga mat, mood lighting, and a charming balcony! Sign me up!

 

For lunch, we chose from a variety of healthy options while learning about nutrition and fitness from Charity of Curvy Fit Chicks, who shared her story of physical transformation. After the tragic loss of her mother, Charity changed to a healthy eating, fitness-infused lifestyle, and has been inspiring women ever since.  

Fun Tip: Consider joining your local food co-op for fresh fruits and veggies!

Next, we visited the yoga studio for a quick session with Allaya Cooks Campbell of Yoga with Allaya. Allaya is also SBG’s new Mind Editor, so it was amazing to see her passion for wellness in action. Allaya decided to go easy on us since we had just eaten lunch, opting for a restorative yoga flow. I discovered that I can’t make my butt touch the wall with my legs straight up in the air.

I snagged this selfie from Charity of Curvy Chick Fitness. That's me behind her, trying my very best!

I snagged this selfie from Charity of Curvy Chick Fitness. That's me behind her, trying my very best!

Fun tip: Restorative yoga is perfect for unwinding after a long day. It preps the body for meditation and relaxation.

I had a blast learning about wellness and healthy living with Sisterhued! The event ended with cupcakes and mimosas - who could ask for a better conclusion? As always, I’m so grateful to be able to share my wellness journey with you. Keep loving yourself inside and out!

 

Xoxo

Rowana

 

Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson

Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson is a Guyanese-American writer, author of Departure Story, and founder of Spoken Black Girl, a publishing & media company that promotes mental health and wellness among Black women & women of color by amplifying emerging voices. Rowana has had fiction and poetry published in Moko Magazine, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, Culture Push, When We Exhale: Anthology of Black Women Rooted in Ancestral Medicine, and Free Verse Magazine and The Fire Inside Volume lll Anthology. As a freelance health and wellness writer, Rowana has written for Insider, GoodRx, Well +Good, Bold Culture by Streamline Media, The Tempest, Insider, and Electric Lit. Rowana is currently completing her MFA in Fiction Writing at Arcadia University so she can bring more amazing stories into the world!

Social Media

Instagram: @Rowana_a

@Spokenblackgirlmag

Twitter: @Rowana_a

@Spokenblackgirl

Facebook: @Spokenblackgirl

Website: Spokenblackgirl.com

https://Rowanaabbensettsauthor.com
Previous
Previous

Writing + Yoga Event with Ashley Coleman & Mary Lou