Stress Management Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All: Here Are 7 Healing Practices

As National Awareness Month gets underway, BLACK ENTERPRISE recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work when addressing stress management . Many people require culturally competent care to achieve lasting healing rather than temporary relief. Across the country, Black practitioners are leading evidence-based and holistic approaches to help individuals regulate their nervous systems and process trauma. 1) MEDITATION : Somatic-based meditation moves beyond traditional stillness to explore bodily awareness. Prentis Hemphill combines trauma-informed somatic practices with meditation techniques to help participants identify physical stress patterns. Hemphill’s work focuses on both collective healing and individual restoration. 2)  BREATHWORK:  A focus on breathing patterns can activate the parasympathetic nervous system to produce “rest-and-digest” responses. Jasmine Marie leads a movement in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and Detroit. Her organization, Black Girls Breathing, uses rhythmic breathing to soothe the nervous system for Black women experiencing burnout. 3)  SOUND BATH:  Studies show sound therapy can reduce brainwave speed and improve mental clarity. Leah Frazier operates in the Dallas, Texas region, offering sound bath sessions which use crystal bowls, chimes, and guided meditation to deliver healing frequencies to participants. Her practice unites mindfulness with vibrational …