There's no denying the wellness industry has boomed in recent years, particularly within the fitness space. After all, we live in an appearance-obsessed society and the influx of fit-fluencers over the past three years has us more concerned with health and the aesthetics of being health conscious. Who can forget the chokehold Chloe Ting's gruelling workouts [1] had us in during the pandemic? Yet in the wake of lockdown, a variety of diversity and race-related issues were exposed across a number of industries, including wellness.
Now this is nothing new. Wellness has always been a space that is overwhelmingly dominated by thinness and whiteness [2]. From the beginning of time, we have been told Black bodies are built differently [3]. We are bigger, and less fragile than our white counterparts, so it isn't surprising that these thoughts would trickle down into the wellness industry through normalised practices and marketing.
In 2020, Sport for All [4] reported that only 56 percent of Black people in England reached the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity weekly and this is directly related to representation. Tifuh Mona is a mindful movement teacher and she says "in the past the things that were marketed towards Black people were always boxing classes, cycling, dance, pole dancing, and twerking classes." Two decades into her fitness career, it's only recently she has seen a wellbeing shift [5] that is undoubtedly tied to the uprising that took place during the pandemic towards representation as it pertains to race, gender, and size.
So join us in celebrating these Black-owned and women-friendly [6] initiatives and add them to your activity list.
Black Girls Hike UK
In 2019 Rhianne Fatinikun formed Black Girls Hike [7] (BGH), to challenge the lack of representation and inclusion of Black women in outdoor activities. It's a space for women of Black Afro/Caribbean descent only. Her goal was to create a safe space for exploration and connecting with nature, which would have lasting effects mentally, spiritually, and physically.
Walking has existed since the beginning of time and has an almost grounding influence by inadvertently being a stress reliever. Nature is a natural healer and Fatinikun is focussed on using it to heal century-old traumas within the Black community by way of lush walks ranging from beginner to intermediate. The group has hiked in Wales, Kent, Surrey, the Peak District, and Madeira in Portugal, in the past.
"We currently host group hikes nationwide led by a team of volunteers, activity weekends (caving, climbing, and paddle sports), and training weekends" and in 2022, "we became an approved provider of Mountain Training to deliver navigation courses which helps us address the lack of representation in outdoor leadership and also the skills barrier," says Fatinikun.
Follow Eventbrite [8] for upcoming Black Girls Hike events across the UK.
Flock Together
Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera's shared love of birds and nature birthed their birdwatching initiative Flock Together [9]. Through nature, the cofounders were able to find healing during their darkest times. "We were in a global lockdown and we saw our community struggling," says Olanipekun. "Mental health in the black community is still slightly taboo. So, we had the idea that if we've received these benefits, then how about we share them with our community."
Flock Together is the first birdwatching collective for people of colour and hosts monthly walks in remote forests and local city parks. Around 80 percent of these walks are attended by women, a statistic that hasn't gone unnoticed. The cofounders cherish the responsibility of being a safe haven in an age where women crave safety and comfort while being outdoors.
The community known as #birdgang is made up of experienced birders and first timers united by their curiosity of exploring the outdoors and finding healing in nature. The three hour walks take place in London and other areas across the UK, with walks planned for Derby and Scotland this year. "We want to explore further and further, and the confidence to do this is sometimes an issue when you're on your own in cities outside of London where you see less people that look like you," says Olanipekun.
Flock Together's sessions are free, which ties into Olanipekun's belief that everyone should have access to the outdoors. "The barrier to entry has to be on the floor so all we ask is you bring your lunch, and cover your own travel," says Olanipekun. "We don't ever charge our people, our community for the experience." The plan is to continue growing the collective which now has groups in Tokyo and Toronto and working on reactivating its New York chapter.
Subscribe on the website for more information.
Swim Dem Crew
Nathanial Cole and his partner founded Swim Dem Crew [10] in 2013 to break down barriers and get Black people in the water. Surveys conducted by Swim England in 2021 showed 95 percent of Black adults and 80 percent of Black children don't know how to swim. Only 2 percent of Black people in England swim regularly, and Cole wants to bridge this gap with his initiative.
"We just want to bring community to the water because swimming is a solitary kind of thing and the more people we have in the water learning together the better," says Cole. Various factors contribute to people of colour not knowing how to swim, including an intense fear of water, socioeconomic challenges, and the age-old generational issue of no one learning the skill.
With fun and engaging swim lessons, Swim Dem is tackling these challenges one swimmer at a time. There was a spike in interest in the initiative during the lockdown, and for good reason. People were looking for ways to recharge, combat mental health problems, and break generational curses – many turned to swimming.
Classes are held in London with occasional sessions outside of the city in Summer and Autumn. A drop-in session costs between £5 and £10, and a three-month course is between £150 and £250.
Clmbxr
If you've never seen yourself as the rock-climbing type, Clmbxr [11] is here to change that with its community-forward approach. Formed in 2019 by Rotimi Odukoya, the initiative evolved from a small WhatsApp group of friends wanting to learn something new to a community across London boasting partnerships with North Face. These partnerships have helped Clmbxr be affordable to anyone who may have been put off by rock climbing prices.
"We predominantly focus on Black and underrepresented communities but anyone's welcome," says Odukoya. "I don't gatekeep climbing or the community." His main focus is showcasing how accessible and fun climbing can be. It's the perfect type of activity to counteract the loneliness many felt during the pandemic because you can show up to a climbing session and leave with new friends. "I saw a saying that sums it up perfectly: come solo and leave connected," says Odukoya.
And if you've been on the hunt for women-friendly workout spaces, add Clmbxr to the list. Though a male-dominated sport, Odukoya was surprised at how many women consistently showed up for sessions. "Climbing is great for your mental health and physical fitness. A lot of climbing involves problem solving and we want everyone to not only get these benefits but to feel comfortable while doing so," says Odukoya.
A membership with Clmbxr is £10 monthly and drop in sessions are £12, with all sessions currently in London.