By Tashi McQueen
Special to the AFRO
tmcqueen@afro.com
As demand for fast-paced work and the resulting burnout persist in modern society, Black-owned wellness businesses across the United States are offering accessible ways for people to de-stress while supporting small businesses.
From yoga and meditation platforms to wellness travel, self-care games and creative therapy tools, these companies are redefining what rest looks like.
Here are three ways to de-stress while supporting Black-owned wellness businesses this National Black Business Month.
1. Digital wellness and yoga with The Underbelly
The Underbelly offers digital and on-demand yoga and wellness classes focused on inclusivity, body positivity and mindfulness. Its platform includes yoga for all levels, breathwork, meditation sessions for stress relief and daily affirmation videos accessible through a mobile app or online via a subscription.
“Support Black-owned wellness businesses not just because it’s the ‘right thing,’ but because we are actively building alternatives to systems that were never meant to care for us,” said Jessamyn Stanley, co-founder of The Underbelly.
Stanley encourages people to rethink what wellness means.
“Start by questioning everything you’ve been told about what ‘getting better’ is supposed to look like,” said Stanley. “If your version of wellness is built on self-criticism, punishment or constant improvement–it’s not wellness. It’s just control in a softer outfit. Instead, begin with this: nothing about you is wrong. From there, choose practices and people who reinforce that truth—not ones who profit from you doubting it.”
She said The Underbelly is designed to help people disconnect from harmful expectations.
“Instead of handing people another routine to fail at, we help them unplug from the noise,” said Stanley, “The body already knows how to regulate, how to rest, how to respond. Yoga isn’t the solution, it’s the language that helps you hear yourself again.”
2. Luxury wellness travel with OMNoire
OMNoire: Luxury Wellness Experiences for Women of Color offers curated wellness travel experiences designed to center rest, healing and cultural connection. The company hosts retreats and maintains a directory of vetted global wellness experiences.
To date, OMNoire has hosted more than 300 retreats and brought together over 5,000 women. The business has visited more than 60 destinations in five countries.
“At OMNoire, we create experiences that allow people to step out of constant output and into intentional rest,” said Christina M. Rice, chief experience officer of OMNoire. “That looks like retreats, but it also extends into how we design community, content and even the way we communicate. We are not asking people to escape their lives, we are helping them return to themselves within it.”
Rice emphasized the goal is sustainable wellness, not temporary relief.
“We bring together intentional programming, beautiful environments, and a strong sense of community so that people feel supported in real ways, not just inspired temporarily,” said Rice. “It is wellness that feels lived-in, not performative, and designed with real people and real lives in mind.”
3. Creative self-care with Dejha B Coloring
Dejha B Coloring, created by Khadejha “Dejha B” Brunner, uses coloring books, puzzles and creative kits to promote relaxation and self-care for children and adults through culturally affirming design.
Brunner said the brand emerged from her personal experience with anxiety and a lack of representation in wellness products.
“My journey started during a time when I was navigating anxiety, and I discovered how therapeutic coloring could be,” said Brunner. “I also realized there was a lack of representation in the coloring space, which inspired me to create products that reflect and uplift our community.”
She said each product is intentionally designed for both relaxation and cultural affirmation.
“Whether it’s our adult coloring books filled with affirmations, our puzzles, or our Color and Sip Kits, each product is designed to reduce stress while celebrating culture, joy and self-expression,” she added. “At a time when mental wellness is more important than ever, my mission is to remind people that peace and joy can be found in simple moments, like picking up a coloring pencil.”
