To kick off our first issue of 2021, we reached out to our extended community to recommend the D.C. area individuals included in this roundup. Whether working as personal trainers, nutritionists, manifestation mentors or so many other roles, they inspire the District to define health and wellness for themselves. While by no means an exhaustive… Read more »
Read Our Winter 2021 Issue
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
D.C.’S Culture of Self-Care. At the start of each year, we tend to turn toward health and wellness in an effort to renew our sense of self and turn over a new leaf, whether that be physical, mental or emotional. The myriad of reasons why 2021 is the ultimate year to be kind to ourselves and embrace all things self-care need not be listed here, but they are what inspired us to highlight these practices in our first issue of the year. We reached out to our community to see who we should speak to in the D.C. area about all things mindfulness, movement and connection and received an overwhelming number of recommendations, only solidifying how close-knit and supportive the health and wellness community in our city is.
Our winter issue cover subjects run the gamut of self-care instruction and practice: Cierra Kaler-Jones is a social justice educator and movement and meditation instructor; Dr. Darrien Jamar practices reiki and chiropractic, and is an integrative life coach; Sarah Rehman runs aerial yoga studio Flying Buddha; and Vergie “Gigi” Arandid is about to open D.C.’s first official booze-free spot, Binge Bar. We spoke with each of them about what inspired their careers, how they stay connected to their communities and what they do to practice self-care.
We also spoke with 20 other local health and wellness experts about their self-care journeys, both professionally and personally, and picked their brains about what self-compassion means to them. We covered navigating mental health, striking work/life balance and finding intimacy in a post-Covid world; veganism, intuitive eating and the booze-free movement; body positive fitness and other inclusive forms of movement and mindfulness; self-care and nutrition tips; and a roundup of local skincare and wellness shops. Plus, read about D.C. musician on the rise, Bartees Strange; Halycon’s new incubator program with Black Girl Ventures; a health and wellness-themed crossword and connect the dots; and much more.
A huge thank you to our readers and magazine family for expanding our awareness of the self-care movement in our city.
Monica Alford
Editor-in-Chief
FEATURED
Self-Care: A Healing Journey
“Isn’t there something else?” I was in my mid-20s, living in Shanghai and moving up in the PR agency world. Everything looked great on paper, but that question kept popping into my mind. A part of me genuinely enjoyed the work I was doing, but it also felt a bit empty and less fulfilling as… Read more »
Sanity Check: Balancing Success + Well-Being
I have thought often during the pandemic of shaving off my long blond hair. Reduced hair maintenance is enticing, and I am not going to parties anyway. Then, I envision my colleagues staring from my computer screen, and the three or so friends who visit me IRL. Everyone would see me as a pandemic-era Britney… Read more »
EAT
Planting the Seeds: D.C. Vegan Eats
D.C.’s vegan restaurateurs have been waiting for their moment in the sun – and it appears to be here. For decades, being vegan conjured images of Birkenstock-clad hippies eating millet, brown rice and carob purchased from bulk bins at a co-op. Indeed, that’s exactly what Doron Petersan was running away from when she decided to… Read more »
Going With Your Gut: Intuitive Eating in D.C.
Explore how intuitive eating can be a more holistic approach to health, wellness and your relationship with food. Intuitive eating is rooted in the concept of following internal cues to decide when and what to eat, while also rejecting the idea of specific rules or regimens to follow. By removing external parameters, the focus… Read more »
VIDA’s Rachel Sheahan Talks Self-Care + Holistic Health
VIDA Fitness offers a holistic approach to wellness and self-care with fitness classes, nutrition consultation and on-location spa services. District Fray Magazine caught up with Rachel Sheahan, a VIDA Fitness dietitian and strength and conditioning coach, to learn more about the role of nutrition in self-care and holistic health. District Fray: How are nutrition and… Read more »
DRINK
Dry January + Beyond: the Alcohol-Free Movement Continues to Grow
What if we told you partaking in Dry January didn’t preclude you from dabbling in the explosive flavors of your favorite cocktail? Would you be more inclined to ditch the bottle of bourbon or let specs of dust gather between your vodka and tequila? The world of nonalcoholic mixed drinks has gained a tremendous amount… Read more »
Eight Zero-Proof, Made-in-D.C. Drinks to Kickstart 2021
For some, the start of the new year is an opportunity to reset intentions, focus on health goals and take part in what has become a new year tradition for many: Dry January. For others, choosing to abstain from alcohol is a lifestyle. Whichever camp you fall under, if you’re on the hunt for nonalcoholic… Read more »
DRY Botanical Bubbly Is Changing the Drinking Game
There are a million reasons why people choose to cut alcohol out of their life, but Sharelle Klaus – founder and CEO of DRY Botanical Bubbly – wants you to know you have options. “My big mission in life is hopefully [in five years], I walk into a bar, I ask for a cocktail and… Read more »
MORE DRINK
A New Way to Binge: Sobriety Anchors Business + Being for Gigi Arandid
At first blush, naming a bar that eschews booze “Binge Bar” might seem like an odd choice. But for Vergie “Gigi” Arandid, it couldn’t be more fitting. “It means to binge on everything that is good – mind, body and soul,” says the founder and owner of the H Street spot, in the works and… Read more »
MUSIC
Bartees Strange’s Banner Year
All things considered, 2020 was a banner year for Bartees Strange. In March of last year, the D.C.-based musician released “Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy,” an EP of covers by The National. At the start of October, he released “Live Forever,” his first full-length album. Widely lauded, Strange swept the end-of-year lists, landing high on… Read more »
CULTURE
The Thriving World of Local Wellness Shops
As D.C. area residents continue to cope with the added stress of the pandemic, they are increasingly turning to wellness shops and looking for alternative ways to relax. Shop owners have noticed a difference in what customers are seeking, noting an elevated level of stress and need for ways to relax at home and feel… Read more »
Halcyon + Black Girl Ventures Partner to Support BIPOC Women
Black women have long been one of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs in the U.S., despite a systemic lack of access to capital. Now, the pandemic is not only disproportionately threatening their lives – it poses a danger to their businesses, too. A new incubation intensive created for Black and brown women entrepreneurs aims… Read more »
LIFE
Unlocking Your Story with Cierra Kaler-Jones
You can’t create space for the “Hell yeses” if you don’t give the “Hell nos.” These words of wisdom belong to Cierra Kaler-Jones, who is speaking about the importance of setting boundaries and saying no “as a full sentence – period, full stop” to the things in life that don’t excite you. The movement and… Read more »
Dr. Darrien Jamar on Creative Expression, Healthy Energy Flow + Impromptu Dance Parties
The practice of self-care has never been more crucial to us as individuals and as a collective whole, whether that means losing yourself in a hobby, operating in low-power mode, or creating space and time for yourself. These are just three of Dr. Darrien Jamar’s suggestions for how to live in a state of reflection… Read more »
The Evolving Journey of Mental Health: Self-Awareness, Creative Outlets + Safe Spaces
I have been struggling with depression for over 20 years. I went through this phase during my senior year of high school where I just stopped showing up to one of my classes – no reason. I wasn’t skipping to smoke weed or have sex (too prude) or any of that. I was just skipping… Read more »
MORE LIFE
Intimacy Experts Talk Shop
After almost a year of social distancing and self-quarantining, we all know the common problems plaguing the romantic relationship realm. For singles, connecting with potential partners is trickier than ever, and for those who are already in relationships, the lack of alone time can be suffocating. But this isn’t another one of those depressing articles… Read more »
Step Up Your Skincare: Building Beautiful Skin + Sustainable Habits
We’ve all seen it: Some sort of self-care along the lines of, “Take a deep breath and do a face mask.” In a world where face masks mean more than just a relaxing skincare step and taking a deep breath isn’t always enough to center oneself, skincare as self-care might need a deeper dive. Not… Read more »
Self-Care Illustration
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PLAY
Flying Buddha Studio’s Sarah Rehman Reaches New Heights
At Flying Buddha Studio, owner Sarah Rehman evangelizes the benefits of aerial yoga while expanding the boundaries of traditional fitness practices along the way. The ancient practice of yoga may call to mind tranquil imagery of individuals seated in sukhasana: Legs crossed, eyes closed, palms up. Enter Rehman, whose Gaithersburg, Maryland-based business turns that vision… Read more »
A Beginner’s Guide to the Many Forms of Self-Care
Self-care is a concept often talked about vaguely on the Internet, but knowing where to start when building your own routine comes down to personal needs and preferences. A holistic approach to self-care requires a balance between different aspects and an understanding of how those different parts interact and support each other. A common approach… Read more »
Body Positive Boot Camp’s Bianca Russo
Bianca Russo is not your typical fitness trainer. When you take a class or have a session through her D.C.-based virtual fitness program, Body Positive Boot Camp, you can feel the tension in your body melt away. Instead of focusing on counting calories or losing weight, Russo encourages her members to feel confident about their… Read more »
MORE PLAY
Make Room for Self-Care in 2021
Dry January is a familiar New Year’s resolution for many that might feel even tougher to follow after experiencing the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020. But, not drinking a single sip of alcohol for an entire month doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, it’s a good first step to weaving a… Read more »
Find Your Zen: Crossword
Take a break from your own soul-searching, self-care journey with this relaxing crossword. Featuring many people, places and things from throughout the issue, it’s sure to be a breeze once you’ve read every article in our Winter 2021 issue. Print the downloadable PDF here. ACROSS 6. A professional who helps people assess their current physical… Read more »
Find Your Zen: Crossword Answer Key
Take a break from your own soul-searching, self-care journey with this relaxing crossword. Featuring many people, places and things from throughout the issue, it’s sure to be a breeze once you’ve read every article. ACROSS 6. A professional who helps people assess their current physical and emotional state and set goals for what they want… Read more »
