Reimagine self-care with Tamela J. Gordon’s Hood Wellness

In recent years, it appears that evidently wellness or “self-care” has made its way into everyone’s personal “Top 5” list. From superficial practices like manicures, facials and massages to healthy practices like clean eating, exercise and therapy, wellness routines have taken over the streets of social media. Nevertheless, while the seemingly collective prioritization of self-care has encouraged more people to give attention to themselves, for a lot of this trend stays an aspirational lifestyle.

The reality is that popular wellbeing advice shouldn’t be all the time available, especially for people living outside a certain tax bracket. Does this mean that self-care is reserved for certain socioeconomic groups?

For writer Tamela J. Gordon, the reply isn’t any. In his upcoming book “Hood Wellness: Stories of Social Welfare from People Who Drowned on Dry Land,” Gordon offers a brand new perspective on well-being that’s grounded in inclusive, free and low-cost self-care practices and, most significantly, the ability of community.

As a longtime advocate of self-care, Gordon has participated in several popular health trends, similar to hot yoga. Still craving something more, the writer quickly realized that trendy, IG-ready wellness classes weren’t enough.

“I used to be comfortable about it, but I used to be absolutely miserable. That’s when I spotted that what I believed was the reality about well-being wasn’t actually true in any respect,” she explained. “I desired to go to therapy and do what I call ‘nasty treatment’.”

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After years of counting on self-care and wellness to beat poverty, addiction and dissatisfaction, Gordon admitted her struggles and asked for help to combat them. With the assistance of her community, the New York native moved to Florida, where she was not only in a position to get the assistance she needed to heal physically and mentally, but additionally hosted a three-day retreat in her home for people searching for inexpensive mental health support.

Completely changing her views on wellness and community healing, Gordon’s experience revealed the ability that may be present in community. As a queer black woman, she was particularly inquisitive about the ways through which healing presented itself in marginalized communities. While the term “hood wellness” partially refers to her own budget-friendly approach to self-care, Gordon explains that “hood” means greater than just socioeconomic status.

“The cladding is really multi-functional in the sense that it literally (represents) my location. Where I live has a lot to do with my ability to take care of myself…the hood plays a role in my safety, comfort, convenience and so on,” she said. “So housing will always be a topic of discussion (that comes up), but so does the concept of hood in its social meaning.”

Going beyond the inner-city connotations often associated with the word “hood,” Gordon’s philosophy emphasizes the community that may be present in neighborhoods

“In every center I have ever been to, there are always people who become sources of information and resources. “Whether you’re trying to cash in on food stamps or you want to know which bus goes to which building, there’s always someone in that building or on that block or in that neighborhood who (offers a little guidance),” Gordon explained, adding, “that’s what this is how the hood becomes unique.”

Understanding the nuances of the Black experience, the Kirkus Star-winning book features stories from other authors about their very own journeys to physical and mental well-being, showing how well-being practices can impact a person’s relationship with their body, identity and rights. From terminal illness and police violence to accepting gender identity in a society that consistently undermines and attacks the rights of trans and queer people, each story reflects the present political, racial and gender climate in America while difficult similarly oppressive systems deeply rooted within the health and wellness industry. well-being.

“As their stories unfold, we see that some voices are being underestimated because of their intersectionality, which impacts not only the community but also the individual,” Gordon said, highlighting the contributions of activists like Claudette Colvin and Tarana Burke to the book. “That’s how wellness tends to intersect and really impact us based on our identities, our communities, and how much (we) have to actually fight for (our) rights.”

Importantly, Gordon clearly states that Hood Wellness shouldn’t be a guide to well-being. Describing herself as “an explorer who takes good notes” reasonably than an authority, the writer hopes that her and other authors’ health research will encourage readers to explore what the concept of self-care and well-being might appear like for them.

“My well-being is a hood; my mood is ugly. I like candles and bubbles and all that shit. But I also like the unique information that (I can) only get from home… from the community,” Gordon explained. “I want people to know that Hood Wellness is truly an experience. That’s funny. This makes you think. It’s emotions on both sides. I think people will be truly surprised at how inspired and entertained they will walk away.”