https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/travel/wellness-retreats-vacations-nourish-refresh-black-women

A message for Black women: we need to protect our mind, body, and spirit at all times.

It goes without saying that mindfulness, healthy-living, and emotional wellbeing are extremely necessary as we navigate the world today. That’s why wellness travel, as it is often referred to, is increasingly becoming the smart alternative for Black women who want to blend fun, relaxation, connection, and self-discovery into their vacation. Whether you’re interested in yoga, a healthier living alternative, or implementing holistic wellness into your daily life, these workshops and retreats offer a little something for everyone. With so many activities and events on their itineraries, consider them your first step and an easy way to ‘om’ your way to bliss.

Here, we’re spotlighting four wellness retreats specifically designed for Black women, that won’t just nourish your bodies, but your spirit too. Each of these programs promotes mental focus, inner calm and a chance to soul search, so we can all be our best selves when we step out into the world each day. Check them out!

OMNoire
OMNoire was founded by Amber Lee Forrester (founder of Kane & Couture and Crowned & Brown) and Christina M. Rice (founder of LuxeLife Media & LuxeLife Adventures). Their mission? Create a wellness social community for multicultural women focused on living well from the inside out. And it’s safe to say: mission accomplished. OMNoire connects like-minded women through our events, retreats and online platform to cultivate strength, growth and positive manifestation in all areas of our lives. And in just a year, it’s evolved from just one retreat in Grenada to several offered throughout the globe. So whether you want to stay domestic, or travel to some of the most popular locales and destinations, there is something for everyone. And while they just wrapped ‘Breathe Barbados’, OMNoire has two more retreats planned for this year including the Poconos, and Bali. For more details and to book your OMNoire Retreat visit www.omnoire.com.

MTYRetreat
CurlBox CEO and Founder, Myleik Teele has been dropping gems on us for years now. So it was about time she bottled all of her advise, quips and tips into a retreat that shifts our way of thinking, creates collaborations and establishes new friendships. The inaugural 2018 My Taught You (MTY) Retreat was hosted by Myleik herself and featured master class sessions taught by dynamic speakers such as Karleen Roy (Founder, The Vanity Group), Zim Ugochukwu (Founder, Travel Noire), and Kahlana Barfield-Brown (Instyle Beauty Editor-At-Large). Special guests Luvvie Ajayi (New York Times Best Seller) and Necole Kane (Founder, XO Necole) shared intimately as we explored failure, triumph, and success. For more details and to book your 2019 MTYRetreat visit www.mtyretreat.com.

Women of Color Healing Retreats
Based in Costa Rica, Women of Color Healing Retreats is a space for women to focus on yoga, community building, nature, self-care, and spirituality. It’s the brainchild of Satya X, who left NYC four years ago to explore Central America. The retreat is a sacred space that allows women to hear and see themselves in nature. It also is a space to unwind and disconnect from the psychological trauma of systemic racism. This retreat is a custom designed for women of color. For more details and to book your Women of Color Healing Retreat visit www.womenofcolorhealingretreats.com.

The Whole Experience Retreat
Founded in September 2017 in a coffee shop in Bali, Indonesia, TameikaG and Whitney Gee (both solo travelers and total strangers at the time) met, realized they had tons in common, including the same birthday, and together became the best of friends and dreamed up an idea that changed the game. The Whole Experience is a traveling health retreat dedicated to helping women create a sustainable healthy lifestyle while building community and exploring beautiful parts of the world. The ultimate goal? Create a safe space where women can learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. For more details and to book your Whole Experience Retreat visit www.thewholeexperience.org.