Whether it’s marching in protests, organizing community events, writing and calling government officials, or unlearning and actively engaging in difficult conversations, being an activist is an incredibly important job. It can also be a physically, mentally, and emotionally draining one. Creating social change is not something that happens overnight or by oneself. It requires that we show up for ourselves just as much as we show up for the people and causes we’re fighting for. If we want sustainable activism, then we need to remember that, like superheroes, even change agents need to take care of themselves. And if you ever start to feel guilty for doing that, remember that Black lesbian writer and activist, Audre Lorde, once said, “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” We can’t pour from an empty cup. We need to care for ourselves, recharge, and replenish our resources in order to keep showing up and doing the work. So, how do you refill your cup and practice self-care as you strive for social justice? Continue reading “Wellness Wednesday: Self-Care for Activists”
Tag: yoga
Wellness Wednesday: Black Girl in Om
Wellness Wednesday: Here’s to a Healthy Back

Happy Wellness Wednesday, friends! This week has been quite a whirlwind filled with lots of sitting, standing, walking, and heavy lifting. Actually, now that I think about it, there probably isn’t a day that goes by when my students and I aren’t sitting for long periods of time or lugging around ridiculously heavy and unevenly distributed bags. While increasing my daily steps and toning my arms are certainly a plus (suns out, guns out, amirite?), the severe tension I feel from my neck and down to my toes is so painful, I can hardly move some days without wincing. It also doesn’t help that most of the stress we carry is in our shoulders and neck, so adding tension to an already injured body sounds like a recipe for disaster. The more we load on ourselves, the more back problems will have in the not too distant future. There has to be some way to relieve this pressure and pain without shelling out money for weekly massages, right? Right! Here are a few things worth trying to give your body some much-needed rest and recovery, and they all start with making a change!
Continue reading “Wellness Wednesday: Here’s to a Healthy Back”