Modern Sanctuary: Black-Owned Wellness Retreats You Should Know
For Black Americans, investing in wellness is a matter of life and death. According to researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Black Americans suffer a greater prevalence and earlier onset of chronic illness than any other ethnic group. For instance, Black people are over twice as likely to develop diabetes or die of sudden cardiac arrest when compared to white Americans. They also demonstrate higher rates and earlier onset of elevated blood pressure, arthritis, and cancer, and they are more likely to suffer from comorbidities of these conditions.
Even more alarming is that researchers found there’s a link between experiences of racial bias and health deterioration. Simply put, racism harms health.
Investing in wellness is a crucial strategy that addresses historical health disparities, prevents new ones, and helps to manage existing conditions. There’s no better way to find solace and healing in spaces that prioritize the Black experience. Here are seven Black-owned wellness retreats you should visit this year.
Camp Yoshi
If you never prioritized your wellness, the first few times can feel both intimidating and overwhelming. Camp Yoshi is the ideal choice for both newcomers and those seeking unique experiences. Founded by brothers Ron and Rashad Fraizer and Rashad’s wife, Shequeita Fraizer, this trio of creatives says they are remixing the outdoors through the lens of Black joy, good food, and lived-in adventure.
The team at Camp Yoshi works to curate authentic outdoor experiences that take participants outside of their phones and algorithms. Experiences are off-grid to help reset through various activities that involve fire-cooked meals, unforgettable views, and real connection.
HealHaus
Travel has a way of changing you and often allows you to find your life’s purpose. That’s the case for Darian Hall. Traveling the world for a year was a transformative experience that sparked his passion for mental health advocacy. He found through shared stories that there was a lack of healing spaces for men. These stories prompted him to open HealHaus in Brooklyn in 2018.
HealHaus has undergone a significant transformation since its initial launch. It’s now a café and wellness studio in Newark, New Jersey, with more locations on the way.
As HealHaus continues to evolve, Hall has not forgotten the brand’s roots of creating healing and access for people who are often overlooked. He also plans to relaunch the online membership program for people outside of the area.
HURU
Inside HURU is a world where stillness awaits. HURU is a wellness retreat that prioritizes rest in various locations nationwide. Imani Samuels created HURU after a season of extreme and severe burnout. She told Travel Noire that she initially thought it was related to a work project but found it was a “compound effect of multiple things.”
That burnout began to manifest physically in her body. Realizing that her state wasn’t sustainable or healthy, she decided to take a step back and master the art of being still. Her healing journey ignited a new purpose: minister to people struggling with burnout.
Her team curates experiences based on the client’s goals, whether it’s dealing with burnout, life changes like starting a new job, or grief.
The Jenesis House
Created by entrepreneur Jenesis Laforcarde, Jenesis House offers holistic wellness experiences that empower people to prioritize luxurious self-care. Located in Arizona, there are three distinct retreat options to choose from: a residential retreat, a day retreat, and a destination retreat.
The residence retreat at the Blanca House is a luxurious and holistic retreat designed to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit. The curated package includes a 60-minute massage, tea meditation, a sound healing experience, daily morning yoga, and gourmet food. With a commitment to nurturing mind, body, and spirit, Jenesis House provides a space for people to unwind and replenish.
OMNoire
After a period of heavy, broken-hearted burnout, Christina Rice sought a refreshed perspective through yoga. When she looked around for yoga teacher training, she noticed a lack of representation in the industry.
Rice saw this as an opportunity and created OMNoire, allowing women of color to take up space in the wellness sphere. Retreats combine wellness activities, including yoga, meditation, and workshops, with opportunities for cultural exploration and connection.
Experiences are worldwide, and whether it’s a beachside retreat or an urban wellness experience, OMNoire Retreats fosters personal growth, self-love, and self-discovery.
Paradise Park ATL
Headquartered in Atlanta, Paradise Park offers exclusive wellness programs to deliver the ultimate rejuvenation experience to reset and restore. Savauna Sage created the retreat to help people heal in nature. While each experience is different, as they’re tailored to guests’ needs, Paradise Park is great for people who have outgrown spa weekends that wear off by Monday.
There are solo and group retreats, holiday celebrations, and the Lumina Manor Spring. Each experience provides fundamental tools to reset your mind, body, and future.
Ujima Retreat Center
Just outside Urbana-Champaign in central Illinois is the Black family-owned Ujima Retreat Center. Shanelle and Banio Koroma Jr. founded the retreat in 2022, driven by a desire to create a healing space that feels warm, grounding, and non-clinical. Guests will find immersive retreat experiences suitable for individuals, families, and groups on over seven acres of land.
Healing spaces primarily take place in nature. Weather permitting, there is swimming, kayaking, fishing, and a forest bath trail. The facility also features a sauna, hot tub, a sound healing garden, and an aroma garden, all designed to support rest, wellness, and meaningful connection.
Through rest, reflection, and reconnection with the land, Shanelle and Banio are on a mission to help guests restore balance, clarity, and well-being so they can return to their lives and communities more grounded and inspired.
The post Modern Sanctuary: Black-Owned Wellness Retreats You Should Know appeared first on Travel Noire.
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