Amaadi Coleman: Reaching Women of Color with the Wellness We need
Amaadi Coleman
Founder, Fit Tribe Wellness
Fitness is a way of life for D. Amaadi Coleman. But it wasn’t until she lost her mother and her job in the same tumultuous year, that she dedicated her life full-time to helping other women of color live healthier, fitter lives.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle for nearly 20 years, and working in the fitness industry for 10, Amaadi started Fit Tribe Wellness in 2017.
“I’ve known that my purpose was to heal,” Amaadi said, “but it wasn’t clear in what specific capacity until after my mother passed away.”
Mommy & Me
My mother used to wake up 4-year old me and my brother before the sun rose, and we would either jog or ride our bikes around the neighborhood…every morning before school. I have always “moved” in some way - dance, gymnastics, tennis, basketball, volleyball, skating, martial arts, swimming - my mother made sure of it.
I’m not sure if she just liked the feeling of movement/working out or because she actually knew it was healthy for us.
Wellness Journey
Amaadi’s journey to living well happened over time, and before she even knew the words to describe her lifestyle changes. Growing up, she stopped eating pork after learning that her Muslim cousins didn’t and researching food and health. While studying abroad a year later, she reluctantly attended a bullfight and - horrified by what she saw - decided to become vegan. “I didn’t even know that word at the time. All I knew was that I didn’t want to consume any animal products ever again.”
“Once I started digging deeper into healthy eating, there was a natural and seamless progression to “wellness” - I didn’t know that word yet either. This spiraled into living a completely holistic lifestyle, before the word became a household name for many. I even started growing my hair naturally.”
Wellness Work
Amaadi never planned on making a career of wellness work, but all of her life and professional experiences prior to starting her business have helped her be successful in it. In college, this Clinton, Maryland homegirl studied criminal justice and wanted to create and implement inner city programs to deter young people from committing crimes. She went on to get a master’s degree in Public Policy, where she completed research in the fields of: criminal justice and public health, specifically child and maternal health. Now living in Baltimore, the bilingual fitness coach works with black and Latino communities with a special focus on healing women - especially mothers- naturally.
“I don’t really see it as work. There is a strong compulsion to educate, support, and motivate women into optimal health and wellness for where they are in their journey.”
A certified personal trainer, Amaadi has worked with women who have a range of needs and conditions, including: Multiple sclerosis, hip replacements, knee issues, and pregnancy; and women who just wanted to get in shape. She can also count herself as one of her success stories.
“Since being in the fitness industry, the vast majority of women come to me because they want a stronger or slimmer core. That forced me to do a lot of research on the core muscles and how to effectively and efficiently develop them properly. After taking online classes, reading articles, and reviewing videos on the core, I came across Diastasis recti again. After I closed my diastasis by 50% in just six weeks, I knew I had to take this to the black community.
What is Diastasis recti?
Who does it affect?
Diastasis recti is a condition that is more common than you think. Children, women, and men experience this condition. It is very common among mothers, which is my focus. Once a women becomes pregnant, her body start to make accommodations for the growing baby. Part of this process is the expansion of the uterus (and thus front abdominal muscles). Post partum, the abdominal muscles begin to come back together. However, there are many cases that the post partum abdominal muscles do not come back together.
what are some symptoms?
This separation can cause a host of issues, like: ‘mommy tummy,’ constipation, lower back pain, poor posture, poor breathing, incontinence, constipation, and other pelvic floor issues. If a woman is sneezing or coughing or jumping up and down with jump rope, and a little bit of urine comes out, that's also a sign and there's a possibility that she may have a dialysis.
how can you check to see if you have it?
“It's not just mom-specific, and it's not woman of color specific. It could be because of pregnancy. It could be because of obesity. So there are a couple of causes to it. Our YouTube video explains how you can do a self-check.”
Amaadi is currently pursuing a certification in naturally healing diastasis recti, with plans to expand her healing practice through one-on-one and group sessions and workshops, working across the country and through an online program she wants to launch this year.
“I want to slowly transition into focusing really on healing women of colors’ midsection naturally. I took myself through the program, so I know that it works.”
Wellness Business
Fit Tribe Wellness
Fit Tribe Wellness is unique because we harness the power of mind-body connections to support women of color in creating and maintaining healthy lifestyles. Our vision is to create a global tribe of warrior women who maintain a balance of spiritual, physical, and nutritional health and wellness that is practical and sustainable. Also, we are one of a few women of color owned and operated businesses that specialize in naturally healing diastasis recti in mothers!
Is there a difference between health and wellness? I believe so. Health is the state or condition in which people find themselves (mental, physical, social) - and is a part of wellness. Wellness is the total sum of quality and balance of one’s lifestyle.
What are easy ways black women can start improving their health? Black women can easily incorporate a few things into their lives to improve their health: drink more water, eat more green leafy veggies, get more sleep, stretch every day, and take walks in the morning and/or after dinner.
Who is your ideal client? A woman who is actively seeking the type of support that I provide, whether it's fitness, nutrition coaching, diastasis recti healing, or mind-body connection and spiritual support. I'm also Reiki level one certified.
What is your program’s approach? I want it to be very simple, practical, and sustainable for women.
Where are you located? I have clients in Baltimore, D.C., as well as in Montgomery County. I also do online training like: Facebook, Skype, Zoom, or whatever platform the client prefers.
How can someone contact you to learn more? https://fittribewellness.com/
We’re also on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
All About Amaadi
“The name Amaadi means rejoicing. It's Igbo and comes from Nigeria.”
Who is Amaadi?
I am mother to three children who is an energetic conscious being that wants to relentlessly heal the planet one woman of color at a time. I’m also a salsa and house music dancing, weightlifting, smoothie drinking, and loves to laugh junky!
What’s your personal wellness philosophy? I take a holistic approach. I try to live- and I don't really like to use the word balance, but I try to live as balanced as possible, and as natural and as simple as possible. If you keep it simple, it's easier to do. Once you start adding layers, it becomes complicated and there are conditions and then barriers are created.
Favorite quote or saying? My two current ones are: “Life is easy” and “Just keep going.”
What advice would you give someone who may be at a crossroads? I would tell them to stop, be still and reflect on what it is that they want for themselves. Dig deep and feel the burning passion they have, and then move forward with it. Their crossroads just may be that sign or validation they were waiting for in order to proceed without fear.
