Disconnecting Wholistic Health from Capitalism

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to live wholistically, and for me, that journey has become increasingly uncomfortable over the past few years. Wellness has been swallowed up by capitalism, turning practices meant to free us into products meant to be sold. And while BLK + GRN was created to offer safer, healthier options, I’ve struggled deeply with the psychology behind encouraging people to “buy now” when so many are navigating real financial crises.

Because the truth is: it doesn’t take money to be whole.

Yoga is free. Meditation is free. Mindfulness is free. Gratitude is free. Stretching your body, slowing your breath, checking in with yourself—completely free.

But we live in a society determined to convince us otherwise. Wellness has become a shopping list. Every day we’re marketed a new elixir, a new gadget, a new ritual that promises healing. While those things can be beautiful additions to a lifestyle, they are not the foundation. And they certainly aren’t a requirement.

Over the last few years, I’ve felt uneasy watching the economic strain so many in our community are under—layoffs, furloughs, government shutdowns, shrinking SNAP benefits, the rising cost of everything. We are basically living through a recession, even if no one officially wants to call it one. And in the middle of that reality, I’ve had to ask myself:

What does it mean to run a wellness company when people are struggling to afford groceries?

I’ve never liked the psychology of sales—the idea of pushing someone to “grab it now” when I know they may not have the funds. That tension has weighed on me. BLK + GRN was never meant to be a place that pressures people into consumption. It was always meant to be a place of alignment, education, and empowerment.

So I’m leaning even more deeply into what I always wanted BLK + GRN to do: help Black people live non-toxic, intentional lives—whether or not it makes money.

That means sharing more practices that don’t cost anything. That means reminding our community that wellness is a birthright, not a luxury. That means shifting from “purchase this to feel better” to “you already have everything you need to begin.”

And it also means living wholistically in the way I’ve always believed: by not wasting. I donate before I throw anything away because caring for the Earth and caring for our people is part of being well. Wholistic health is about the relationship between ourselves, our environment, and our community—and none of that is for sale.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or financially unsure, I want you to hear me clearly:

Wholistic wellness is not something you buy. It’s something you practice.

My commitment moving forward is to introduce more free, accessible tools—habits, techniques, rituals, and mindsets—that support you without requiring you to spend a dime. Because that is the heart of BLK + GRN. Not just products, but people. Not just sales, but sustenance. Not just commerce, but community.

We were always meant to heal together, and healing was never meant to cost us everything.