How Women Are Reclaiming Outdoor Spaces For Wellness

If you’re one of the rare, lucky women who’ve never gotten catcalled on the street or had some creepy guy follow you at the local park, you might not relate to this. The rest of us, though, know why for many years public parks have held a mixture of beauty, sanctuary and an edge of fear for women of any age or race. Some women have avoided parks altogether or chosen to never go alone.

There’s been a lot of movement lately, though, in which women are reclaiming public spaces for our wellness. Why should we be denied the healing of nature found in these spaces or feel unsafe simply because we exist?

Author Hadiya J. Khuwaja of Islamabad, Pakistan, wrote an in-depth view on the safety in public spaces — specifically parks — and what can or should be done to make these places safer for women. Parks are supposed to be a “safe space” to be equitable for all, yet historically, women and people of color have often found this not to be true.

Taking to parks en masse or solo for many isn’t merely a thing to do for themselves, but it’s an intentional choice to reclaim these spaces for women and people of color — drawing a line in the sand and saying, “We will not be kept out.”

Numerous groups are finding their way to these incredible spaces and if you’re among those who feel like you need some support getting there, these organizations are a fabulous way to start your journey back to the outdoor spaces for your mental health and wellness.

One of the organizations making news while making powerful efforts to reclaim public spaces for women is GirlTREK. The group specifically embraces life as Black women living in a patriarchal society. The adventures together aren’t just about that; they’re about health justice. The goal of the group is to provide support for and work with 700 million Black women worldwide as they heal from intergenerational trauma, the systemic racism of the world and find true transformation for Black women.

Another national groups to pay attention to is Black Girls Do Bike, a community focused on encouraging women of color to hit the trails, gather in bike clubs and support one another in their outdoor pursuits. The group is based out of Pennsylvania but holds events and gatherings throughout the United States, along with virtual events and international meetups.

One of the most empowering and assuring things we can do as women is bond together. Deep Rooted Wellness and Creativity sees this as one of their strengths in particular, with their immersive When Women Walk Together events. Other wellness groups around the world have similar events, as do specific Meetup groups and social clubs on Facebook.

There used to be legal bans against Black people going into public spaces in the United States — like National Parks. Many Black Americans are actively working to reclaim these reserved lands for all people through groups like Black People Who Hike, Hike Clerb and the BLK Hiking Club. These groups are aimed at people of color of all genders, but they speak to both this need and the solution of being intentional in finding safe groups with which to hike. Black Women Who is specifically working to help Black and Brown women find safety in these spaces as they reclaim their human rights so long withheld by racist laws and targeted violence.

Running clubs have been around for decades but in more recent years, more of these groups cater specifically to women. Some have powerful introduction stories like that of marathoner Kathrine Switzer who was attacked during the Boston Marathon, simply because she’s a woman. She turned her story around to create 261 Fearless, a women’s running club to encourage safety and freedom for women runners. Others provide specific opportunities for underrepresented women in the sport, such as Native Women Running and Black Girls Run. Find other running clubs through Every Woman’s Marathon, Free to Run or on Meetup.

One of the most powerful ways to connect body and soul to nature is through the practice of meditation and yoga in an outdoor space. In recent years, we’ve not just seen influencers with massive backyards taking on this activity, but more women-focused yoga groups are taking to the parks, marinas and intentional outdoor yoga spaces for these practices. You may find groups on Meetup, planned by local, state and national parks near you or via Facebook social groups.