Okay, I know what you are thinking. The Essence Festival of Culture is not a Health and Wellness Retreat or Event. Well yes and no…I firmly believe you can incorporate Health and Wellness into any trip whether for work or leisure. You must be intentional.
So, Essence Festival is known for the music and entertainment, but health and beauty are at its core. If you are not familiar with Essence magazine then, that may leave you confused. A bit of history about the Essence Festival. It is an annual music festival that started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence, a magazine aimed primarily at African American women. It has since become the largest African American culture and music event in the United States.
The annual event is held in New Orleans, Louisiana (except in 2006, when it was held in Houston, Texas, due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina) usually around July 4th. It had been nearly 20 years since I had last attended the festival, and it had certainly grown. And the experience I was seeking as a 40-something year old versus a 20-something year old had grown too.
My goal was to indulge in being self-centered, for a few days without the responsibilities of being a mom. Whew, the opportunity to sleep-in was awesome. But the hotel I stayed in made it even better. It’s not a secret that I am a fan of the Marriott brand hotels, but the Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette French Quarter Area Hotel was a step above the other Marriott’s I have stayed at previously in Louisiana. As soon as I walked into the door I was greeted with warm smiles and alcohol, French 75! (Woohoo!). French 75 is a cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar…and I appreciated every sip.
I opted not to purchase concert tickets, but to rather enjoy the free activities of the festival and all the natural wild and craziness of New Orleans. But I did pay $35 plus tax & fees for a total of $43.77 to gain access to the Essence Wellness House for one day (July 2nd).
The Essence Wellness House was held in the Ogden Museum of Southern Art from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM. The building was oddly a bit far from the other festival activities. But it was a pleasant walk-through a part of town I had never visited including Lafayette Square. In the square I was captivated by a 24-foot-tall Afro hair pick topped off with a clenched fist. It provided an opportunity to stop and take pictures. I later learned that the temporary display was a creation of artist Hank Willis Thomas named “All Power to All People.”
Because of the distance from the hotel, I decided to get all my wellness in for the day at one time, rather than to return later. My friend Jerry decided to join me on this outing. It was his first time attending this type of event. There were lectures, demonstrations, snacks, water, fitness classes, chair massages, lounge areas all within the wellness house. I immediately appreciated the vibe of the place, and it was inspiration for me and what Mariposa’s Place of Wellness will offer one day.
The first workout we attended was the Standing Sculpted Abs led by The Guru of Abs, DaShaun Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia. It was one of those types of workouts that you hate while you’re doing it but feel accomplished at the end.
After a hard workout, I thought time in the Zen Zone would be good for what I thought was going to be a light, easy session of yoga. I was misinformed, by my own assumptions. The session was titled “Namaste & Slay: A Hip Hop Yoga + Pilates + Barre Fusion Experience” led by April Dupre from Footprints to Fitness, a wellness company in New Orleans.
This was Jerry’s first exposure to yoga, and I am just glad he was not traumatized. There was only one other male in the room at the beginning of the session, he disappeared before it was over. I was proud that Jerry was able to hang in there. Because of my mishap, I did not want him to have a fixed idea of yoga. Him, like many other people do not know there are various types of yoga, my favorite being restorative, which is totally different from this fusion experience. Note to self and advice to others, be sure to read the titles and descriptions of the exercise classes before you arrive!
After the intense yoga session, I was ready for a 15-minute chair massage, it was simple to get on the list to wait my turn. While waiting I relaxed in the lounge and then listened to a conversation titled “The Independent Woman’s Guide to Love in 2022.” I was not looking for love in 2022, but those are details for another blog. My 15-minute massage felt like a tease, but it was good. Jerry received his first massage EVER! A lot of firsts for him in the wellness house.
Lastly, Smart Water was a sponsor for the event, so we were grateful to grab a few parting gifts including a yoga mat with carrying case, pillow, personal hand fan, water, and other goodies.
If you are in town for the Essence Festival of Culture, I highly recommend purchasing a pass for the Essence Wellness House. Save-the-Date for June 29th to July 3rd, 2023, for more information visit https://www.essence.com/essencefestival2023/
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