Black Mental Health is often overlooked and underserved due to a lack of culturally sensitive and representative resources. And while the number of black healthcare and wellness practitioners is increasing, most tend to be women, leaving a gap in services for black men looking to engage in wellness spaces where they are not the minority. If you are in the Los Angeles area (or planning to visit soon) check out these black-owned and black-led wellness spaces offering yoga, meditation, and other community wellness programming.
The Tree Yoga Cooperative
The Tree Yoga Cooperative ("The Tree") is a Black and Brown owned yoga studio and wellness hub in South Central Los Angeles. The Tree offers a wide range of studio classes and workshops throughout the week. Ja Cole (@10thletter) is one of the four co-founders and was the co-facilitator for my own yoga teacher training program at The Tree. On Saturdays he leads a Meditation class (8:30am) and teaches Soul Flow, and RnB and Hip Hop yoga class (9:30am). You can use my referral link and enter promo code: REFERRAL to attend your first class at The Tree for free!
Hands In The Soil
Hands In The Soil is a community organization fulfilling a mission of connecting mind, body, and nature. Founder, Yancy "Yogee" Comins (@yancy.is.wellthy), hosted a weekly wellness lounge for Men of Color called Check-in & Chill. The last one took place in December 2023 and I am hoping this offering continues. Currently Yancy hosts movement based yoga practices @thepostclimbing in Pasadena on Tuesdays 5:30pm and Fridays 10am, and @LincolnParkLB in Long Beach on Saturdays 9:15am.
Health is Wealth Yoga
Founded by Derrion (@kinginspirit) and based in Long Beach, CA, Health is Wealth Yoga is cultivating abundance through breath. Derrion teaches a Wind Down Wednesday, a donation based yoga class, on Wednesdays 7-8pm at Green Pines Creative (@thegpc.space)in Long Beach.
Walk Good LA
Walk Good LA (@walkgoodla) formed during the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd. What started off as protest against police brutality has transformed into a Black and Brown led community wellness organization. Walk Good LA is based in LA and hosts various wellness programs such as BreatheGood, RunGood, and HikeGood.
Black Being LA
Black Being LA is all about black liberation. They are a non-profit wellbeing studio located in Inglewood, CA prioritizing the wellbeing of Black People. Currently they hold an evening meditation every Wednesday at 7pm and have a host of other studio classes offered both virtually and in person throughout the week.
About the Author
Chelsey is an Atlanta native who has called Los Angeles home for 7+ years. She is a licensed therapist, a registered yoga teacher, and sound meditation practitioner. She provides individual, couples, and group therapy from a relational, somatic, and trauma informed lens. She currently teaches youth yoga through the YMCA and hosts a monthly embodiment sound meditation session at Quantum Clinic. She facilitates holistic offerings such as sound bath and yoga sessions and wellness workshops and speaking engagements via private bookings and community pop-ups. Chelsey is passionate about creating space to engage in conversations about mental health and wellness, and supporting individuals in connecting deeply to themselves and the world.
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