10 Workout Ideas For The Black Woman Who Hates The Gym
Nothing irritates me more than a packed gym at the beginning of a new year or any time. Yes, I'm glad everyone is taking charge of their health, but do we all have to do it at the same gym simultaneously?
Nothing irritates me more than a packed gym at the beginning of a new year or any time. Yes, I'm glad everyone is taking charge of their health, but do we all have to do it at the same gym simultaneously? There is something intensely irritating to me about having to drive myself to a gym, sign in, wait for a machine, and suffer through small talk with weight experts. I prefer to work out in solitude or with a small class while enjoying the absence of clanking machines, sweat aromas, constant chit-chatter, and lackluster playlists.
If you are a gym head, no disrespect - everything isn't for everybody. But if you share my sentiments, then keep reading.
While trying to get to know myself, I've also discovered which form of exercise keeps me interested, all while working my mind and body. Self-care has everything to do with caring for your body, and BWFS is heavy on maintaining excellent health. If you are looking for ways to expand your exercise regimen but don't want to necessarily commit to a gym because of the reasons I listed above and more, check out a list of alternative exercises that you may find both productive and fun.
10 Workout Ideas For the Anti-Gym Black Woman
Pole Dancing: Pole dancing is a fun and empowering workout that helps build strength, flexibility, and confidence. Yes, you will do this in a class setting, but it will probably be far from a gym atmosphere, and you can make it into a cute girl's weekly workout.
Hula Hooping: Hula hooping is an exciting and productive way to work your core muscles and improve coordination. It can be done with a regular or weighted hula hoop for added resistance.
Trampoline Fitness: Trampoline workouts are low-impact and fun. They help improve cardiovascular fitness, balance, and coordination.
Walking: Walking is a simple and effective exercise that can be done anywhere. It helps improve cardiovascular health, strengthen leg muscles, and boost mood.
Cycling: Cycling can be done outdoors or on a stationary bike. It helps improve cardiovascular health, leg strength, and endurance.
Yoga: Yoga is a great exercise focusing on flexibility, strength, and balance. It can help improve posture, reduce stress, and increase body awareness. You can find a yoga class on YouTube or sign up for a virtual yoga class here.
Pilates: Pilates is centered around core strength, flexibility, and body alignment. It helps improve posture, balance, and muscle tone.
Dance Workouts: Dancing is an enjoyable and effective way to stay active at home. You can follow along with dance workout videos or create a dance routine independently. Dancing helps improve cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and mood.
Jumping Rope: Jumping rope is a simple cardio exercise that can be done indoors or outdoors. It helps improve cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and leg strength.
Bodyweight Exercises: Bodyweight exercises require no equipment and can be done anywhere. Examples include squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, and burpees. These exercises help build strength and improve overall fitness.
Remember, excellent health starts with monitoring what you put in your body, what you feed your mind, great rest, and radical self-care. Exercise is secondary.
Here's to a healthy 2024 that doesn't require us to step one foot in the gym!
- Samjah Iman
5 Key Takeaways from Our Holiday Grief Sister Circle:
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, for many individuals, this time of year can be a painful reminder of loss and grief. Holiday grief, the experience of mourning and sadness during the festive season, can be incredibly challenging for Black women who face unique societal pressures and expectations.
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, for many individuals, this time of year can be a painful reminder of loss and grief. Holiday grief, the experience of mourning and sadness during the festive season, can be incredibly challenging for Black women who face unique societal pressures and expectations. From the weight of historical trauma to the burden of caregiving responsibilities, Black women often find themselves navigating a complex web of emotions during this time.
Grief is a universal experience that affects individuals from all walks of life. However, when it comes to Black women, the intersectionality of their identities adds unique layers to the grieving process. To shed light on this topic, Mental Health Clinician Vanice Zenon recently led our first of many Sister Circle sessions entitled: Navigating Holiday Grief: A Grief and Growth Sister Circle for Coping During the Holidays, moderated by Kortlynn Jenae and hosted by Black Women For Self. This empowering gathering aimed to explore the intricacies of grief, debunk misconceptions, and provide valuable tools and resources for Black women navigating their grief journey.
Here are 5 Key Takeaways that Summarized Our Experience:
1. Understanding the Intersectionality of Black Women and Grief:
Black women often face a multitude of challenges when it comes to grieving. The session delved into the intersectionality of race, gender, and culture, highlighting how these factors influence the grieving process. By acknowledging the unique experiences of Black women, the circle fostered a safe space for open dialogue and healing.
2. Debunking Misconceptions Surrounding Grief:
Society often imposes unrealistic expectations on grieving individuals, and Black women are no exception. The session aimed to debunk common misconceptions surrounding grief, such as the notion that Black women are inherently strong and resilient and, therefore, should not openly express their pain. By challenging these misconceptions, the circle encouraged participants to embrace their vulnerability and seek support when needed.
3. Tools and Resources for Navigating Grief:
The Holiday Grief Sister Circle provided participants various tools and resources to help them navigate their grief journey. Mental Health Clinician Vanice Zenon shared coping strategies tailored to the unique experiences of Black women, emphasizing the importance of self-care, community support, and professional help when necessary. The session also highlighted various resources that can provide ongoing assistance, such as grief support groups, therapy options, and online platforms.
4. The Power of Sisterhood and Community Support:
One of the key takeaways from the session was the power of sisterhood and community support in the healing process. Black Women For Self created a safe and inclusive space where participants could connect, share their stories, and find solace in the shared experiences of others. The circle emphasized the importance of building a support network and seeking solace within a community that understands and validates their grief.
5. Advocacy and Empowerment:
The Holiday Grief Sister Circle provided a healing platform and empowered participants to advocate for themselves and their communities. By addressing the intersectionality of Black women, grief, and socialization, the session encouraged attendees to challenge societal norms, break down stigmas surrounding mental health, and promote open conversations about grief within their communities.
The following resources have been curated and recommended by Clinician Vanice Zenon for your reference and support:
The Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services
The Holiday Grief Sister Circle illuminated the intricate intersectionality between Black women, grief, and socialization. This gathering serves as a reminder that by acknowledging and addressing the unique experiences of Black women, we can hold healing space for one another and build community around our struggles and triumphs. The Sister Circle was a sacred space for Black women to unite, share their pain, and find solace during the holiday season. We reminded ourselves that we are still here, standing, and worthy of love and happiness even amid grief.
Black women deserve to be seen, heard, and supported during the holiday season and beyond.
- Chaila Renee Scott
Intentional
As a child, I understood there was something extraordinary about Black women. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I had a deep feeling that they were celestial. I saw them grab life by the collar repeatedly, and they never missed a beat when it came to caring for family and community, all while looking good.
As a child, I understood there was something extraordinary about Black women. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I had a deep feeling that they were celestial. I saw them grab life by the collar repeatedly, and they never missed a beat when it came to caring for family and community, all while looking good. I was eager to be a Black woman, to mask life’s struggles under fire-red lipstick and fly hairdo. I couldn’t wait to carry my family on my back like Big Mama. I looked forward to achieving milestones in my career while balancing the precious act of loving a Black man and rearing his children like my mother. I was ready to pray on Sunday, dance on Friday, and hold it down for the neighborhood on Saturday like my aunts.
And then, I became a Black woman/mother/wife/confidant/friend/career woman/community advocate and realized that the weight of being everything to everyone was a health hazard. Helping the community, doing for family, and tending to everyone else’s needs left me little time to myself. I had seen the other women in my family do these things gracefully, or so I thought. What I didn’t know was that they, too, were often attempting to pour from an empty cup, trying to keep up with the debilitating “strong Black woman” façade.
As an adult, I often chat with my friend and business partner Chaila regarding the struggle of breaking free from the need to be that superhero Black woman and being more intentional about taking care of ourselves. And we couldn’t help but wonder how many other Black women needed a push to do the same thing. So, we decided to birth this nonprofit that will force Black women to pour into themselves. A lot of Black women carry health burdens and have died from not making themselves a priority, and our goal is to elongate the lives of Black women by starting a radical self-care revolution that encourages them to release, rest, and pour into themselves. We advocate for the holistic well-being of Black women, recognizing that by investing in ourselves, we can live healthier lives and better serve our families, communities, and society at large.
We aim to accomplish our mission by conducting quarterly events offering relaxing activities, adventures, forums, exercise/meditation, workshops, in-depth conversations, etc.
Since our inception, we have held an introductory event to introduce some women of our New Orleans community to our movement. Our next event will be the first one of our Sister Circle Series, where we plan to delve deep into radical self-care by exploring grief and how it heavily affects our sisters during the holidays (see event section). Our Sister Circle series is a sequence of intimate, in-person conversations. These meetups promote radical self-care by allowing Black women a safe space to vent, learn, share, release, grow, etc. while dissecting various topics.
We thank you for subscribing to our newsletter and joining our radical self-care movement. Our hope is that this organization spreads all over the world. We also hope you, too, will become more intentional about yourself and make sure you prioritize you.
- Samjah Iman