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Have you ever found yourself wondering why wellness and living a healthy life can feel like they’re unattainable or expensive? If you’re nodding your head in agreement, it’s not just you; mainstream wellness has made us believe that expensive gym memberships, Pilates classes, subscription-based green juice, and meal prep services are what you need in order to be well.


As a Black wellness expert, I am here to tell you - that is the furthest thing from the truth. Wellness should be nothing else if not sustainable and accessible. While there are many benefits to each service that I just named, they are luxuries that not everyone can afford. Additionally, as Black people, there are systemic barriers that impact our access to fitness, nutrition, and adequate mental health services.

While I am in agreement that the start of the new year is an aligned time to develop healthy habits, they don’t need to cost you. There are many free lifestyle changes that we can freely access and allow for us to focus on an aspect of wellness that we often overlook - financial wellness.

Black-woman-slicing-apples-in-her-kitchen-preparing-a-healthy-juice-at-home

Layla Bird/Getty Images

​Juicing At Home

Don’t feel pressured to join the trendy subscription service. Grab a juicer and your favorite fruits and veggies, and start experimenting with your different recipes! This option is not only cost-effective, but it allows you to create juices based on your varying needs. My favorite at-home juice is a DIY recipe for this smoothie from Jamba Juice. Give it a try if you’re a peach and ginger lover.

​YouTube Pilates

Take it from someone who has attended an in-person class as well as online, Pilates Body Raven is out here doing the Lord’s work y’all. Raven Ross is offering free Pilates workouts on YouTube. Free! The certified Pilates trainer, fitness instructor, and movement fanatic has always had a passion for learning new methods of movement in order to strengthen, lengthen, and balance the body. Grab a mat and pull up YouTube so Raven can show you how it’s done.

​Running Outdoors

Cardio doesn’t have to happen inside of a gym. Heading to your local park or taking a jog or walk around your neighborhood can be just as fulfilling. You can also consider a run club to find like-minded people who are passionate about outdoor activities and workouts so that you can find friends who will keep you motivated and are just as excited as you are to get that heart rate going.

Young-Afro-Latina-having-a-video-call-on-laptop-computer-with-a-therapist

Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images

​Affordable Therapy Resources

With resources like Better Help, Open Path Psychotherapy Services, and Talkspace, the financial barrier to accessing therapy is not as severe as it used to be. Often, one of the many things that we can tell ourselves about why therapy isn’t for us is that it costs too much. With various affordable therapy resources, you are able to begin your mental health journey.

​Following Wellness Communities Online

There are endless benefits to following online wellness communities like brands such as Therapy for Black Girls, The Loveland Foundation, Transparent Black Girl, A Safe Space Mentor Group, and more. The first has endless free resources and access to a host of offerings and practitioners that you can learn from. The internet does not have to be a negative experience; allow yourself to use the apps on your phone as tools for knowledge.

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Featured image by Insta_Photos/Getty Images

 

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