On Saturday, September 5, seventy-nine women put their everyday worries on pause. They traded stress for stretching, movement for meditation, and busyness for breathwork during a special mental health and wellness session in observation of Suicide Awareness Month.
The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health partnered with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Lambda Omega Chapter for Yoga at the Point. Held at The Ivy Pointe, located at 5255 I-55 Frontage Road, the event provided a beginner-friendly yoga class led by Maya Morris, owner of Split Rebel Yoga, followed by a mental health session featuring Tabitha Kenny, LPC-S, owner of New Vision Counseling and Consulting, LLC.
Through gentle movement, stretching and intentional breathing, participants were encouraged to release tension, reconnect with themselves and recognize that caring for their mental health is just as important as caring for their physical health. The benefits of yoga extend beyond flexibility and physical fitness. Research from Stanford Medicine suggests that regular yoga practice may help counteract some of the harmful effects of chronic stress on the brain while supporting the body’s ability to regulate its stress response. Harvard Health Publishing also notes that yoga can positively affect mood by increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical associated with improved mood and decreased anxiety. Together, movement, mindfulness and intentional breathing can offer meaningful tools for managing stress and supporting overall mental well-being.
This focus on mental health is particularly important for women in low-resourced and historically underserved communities, who often carry the weight of multiple responsibilities while navigating financial hardship, caregiving demands, discrimination and barriers to accessing quality healthcare. These challenges can contribute to chronic stress and negatively affect both mental and physical health.
The expectation to remain strong and continue caring for everyone else can also make it easy for women to overlook their own well-being. During the mental health session, which focused on stress reduction and self-care, Kenny reminded attendees that “just because you can carry it does not mean it is not heavy.”
The session created a safe space for participants to reflect on the pressures they carry and discuss healthy ways to cope with stress. Attendees shared strategies for managing life’s challenges, including the importance of setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care and recognizing the critical role that adequate sleep plays in supporting mental well-being.
The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health’s support of Yoga at the Point is funded through the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. The partnership reflects the Institute’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities that support the mental, physical and emotional well-being of women and communities that have historically faced barriers to quality healthcare and wellness resources.
To support Institute programs that serve minority and underserved communities, visit minority-institute.org/donations.