MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Over at Bridges on Saturday, Memphians got active and loose at the second-ever annual "Black Yoga and Mental Wellness Festival."
This fest blended yoga, movement, mindfulness, arts and community connections as healing tools for the Black community.
The event allowed people to embrace their emotions while expressing them through movement. Attendees also learned ways to prioritize their mental and physical health.
According to their website, the Black Healers Collective is a "community of change agents" who all work to "advance the healing and wholeness of African diaspora people."
"Our purpose here today is to teach individuals things that they can do in their every day life to tap into that healing power they already have within them," said Jacqueline Oselen, who ran the event. "The body is designed to heal itself, and so we can do things that either support that healing or hinder that healing."
Organizers of the festival encourage Memphians to get in on this opportunity to unwind and recharge their mind, body and soul.
The Black Healers Collective website states that the group is committed to the well-being of Black people, families and communities. They said that commitment "extends to all of humanity and life on Earth, yet is rooted in the deep and abiding love we have for ourselves and our culture."
"This love, and our recognition of our profound interdependence, bind us together across diverse backgrounds, traditions and healing arts, and compel us to align our efforts to heal ourselves and serve others," the collective's website states.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated Jacqueline Oselen was the founder of the Black Healers Collective. This was incorrect. The founder of the Black Healers Collective is Rebeccah Bennett. We strive for accuracy in our reporting, and we apologize for not having this information correct.