Katara McCarty first sought out meditation apps amidst the pressures of 2020’s global lockdowns and national racism following a series of high-profile deaths of unarmed black people. Disappointed, I logged out of the app store. McCarty was looking for something that would appeal to the stress and anxiety specific to the black experience. So in August 2020 she launched her own brand.
take a breath is a meditation app not only created by black women, but for black women. McCarty, who is based in Indianapolis, explained in an interview with theGrio that her app does not offer general coaching, but instead coaches users through breathing techniques and meditation with exercises tailored to the Black experience. Now in its second version, the app features a highly stylized, minimalistic interface featuring pale pastel colors, vibrant artistic photography, and McCarty’s soothing voice.
You can choose from three categories: “Breathing,” “Sound,” and “Guided Journey.” Within each category, users can choose her 5-, 10-, or 15-minute exercises that target specific topics, such as connecting with ancestors, calming the mind, or centering on inner peace. . Of Exhale’s latest features, McCarty said he’s most excited about the new “breathing orb” that greets users when they launch the app.
The orb is a bright yellow animated circle that expands when the user tells it to inhale and contracts when it exhales. “It’s like breathing with you,” McCarty said, adding that the orb is intended to help provide immediate relief from stress. For example, she said, after experiencing a microaggression at her workplace.
“There is so much power in our breath,” she said. “Our breath literally shifts us from fight-or-flight mode to calm.”
McCarty also said that since its launch, Exhale has grown to be much more meaningful for Black women’s mental health.
“Exhale is more than just an app,” she told theGrio. “This is a movement that puts Black women at the center of their health.”
She says the movement is “bringing people in” and not only addresses a void in the world of meditation apps, but also provides valuable insight into Black women’s mental health. In advance of the release of the latest version of the app, Exhale released the “State of Self-Care for Black Women” report, which surveyed 1,005 Black women across the country from various age groups and socio-economic statuses.
“We created the ‘State of Self-Care for Black Women’ report to really fill in the gaps in research data about Black women’s experiences with mental, emotional, and even physical health in the context of intersecting identities. I decided to create one,” McCarty explained.
“We want to raise awareness about Black women’s voices,” she added. “We want to hear their songs and we want other people to hear them too.”
McCarty said those surveyed overwhelmingly wanted something like Exhale, a wellness resource specifically for Black women.
“What this report really points out is that [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] “This work is now fairly common, and we need to do more to foster safe spaces for Black women,” she said.
McCarty developed Exhale based on a hunch that was widely felt among black women. “When I saw that reflected in the report, I was like, ‘Okay, we’re on to something,'” she said, adding that agencies “were really making sure that Black women He added that it is essential to ask, “How are we supporting them? Are we really supporting them?”
The Exhale app exemplifies what happens when Black women are fully supported. McCarty explained that she does not come from a technical background. She never thought of creating an app until 2020. But when she decided to launch her meditation and breathing app focused on Black women, her community supported her from the beginning.
“I really leaned into my community. They showed up in a really big way to help me get this project off the ground,” she said.
That community includes my husband, children, friends, and social platforms such as: be agileinitiatives like Black Run highland project (Helps Black Women Launch and Sustain Business Ideas), and others in the industry.
“We have a lot of support. And I sit every day grateful for that,” she said.
Both the report and the new version of the app are still new, but McCarty already has ideas for what’s next. She plans to continue her mission to educate the community about Black mental health and grow Exhale into a staple in Black women’s emotional toolbox. She also wants to incorporate more resources, such as ways for users to find a local therapist or find further help if needed.
Above all, McCarty said, [Black women] They remain on the fringes and are left behind in movements for equity and justice. We want to be front and center. I believe that if we prioritize black women, other women will also be valued. ”
Kay Wicker is a lifestyle writer for theGrio, covering health, wellness, travel, beauty, fashion, and the myriad ways Black people live and enjoy life. She has created content for magazines, newspapers, and digital brands.
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