Mindwalk Yoga, the UK’s first online Yoga studio led by Black women, have launched a new campaign to get Black women resting in 2023.

Mindwalk Yoga was launched in 2021 by Zakiya Bishton as an online yoga studio dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where Black women are represented and centred. It has rapidly grown in popularity with over 200 members regularly engaging in its classes, 200+ practices led by Black and Black-mixed heritage teachers, and the introduction of a new VOD App this month, which is available on iOS and Android.

This year, after members of the team noticed they had experienced burn out multiple times in 2022 - from general life stress, the pressures of being a Black working woman and feeling you have to work twice as hard to get half as much, not knowing how to say no - they decided it was time to intentionally centre rest in 2023. They conducted research with Dope Black Women that found a staggering 82 percent of Black British women suffered from stress, 80 percent experienced anxiety, 59 percent reported burn-out and 55 percent suffered from insomnia last year. And so #BlackWomenRestinginto2023 was born.

The campaign is already supported by prominent Black women in the UK including Lydia Amoah, CEO of Backlight and Founder of The Black Pound Report,  Paralympian Vanessa Wallace and author Oya Heart Warrior, founder of Unapologetically Black Yoga.

Sometimes in our modern society, rest can have negative connotations - rest can be seen as lazy, or something that must be earned, as opposed to a totally necessary part of a healthy life, mind, and body. This is something Zakiya feels really strongly has to change.

Rest is a journey. We must learn how to rest, what resting is for us, what resting activities resonate with us and when which activities we need, why and when. This is constantly evolving. There is also the aspect of feeling like I deserve rest, not because I’ve done something, but just because proper rest can be part of my life to lead a more fulfilled life. For me, emotional and mental rest is essential to calm my mind. We tend to think about mind and body as being two separate things, but they are interconnected. When we rest our minds, the body follows, and vice versa.

For many people in the UK, the idea of resting seems impossible right now. Times are so tough, and everyone is having to work even harder to make ends meet. Zakiya says at times like these “Be kind to yourself. Having the intention to explore rest is the start of your resting journey. And that might be enough right now. Know that rest comes in many forms, mental, emotional, physical, creative, social and many more.”

It is also integral to her understanding of what being Black means to her, something we regularly explore here at The Black Project. She says that to her, being Black “is about intentionally centering our minds, bodies and culture in everything we do. Being Black for me is a beautiful journey of discovery through time and space, exploring our history, culture, food, and customs. It’s endless and constantly evolving.”

If you’d like to join the mission to get resting in 2023, you can try their brand new app for free for 7 days.

“Our new App has been created with love - it’s an online sanctuary with 200+ practices to explore yoga and well-being. I’ve created a 14-day guided anxiety support journey that includes journaling and being intentionally kind to yourself. Rest comes in so many forms- movement, stillness, creativity and more. Join us to explore yoga + rest.”

Download from the App store and Google Play and start your 7-day free trial today.