Local Couple Harnesses the Power of Sound Baths and Meditation to Foster Healing and Wellness in the Black Community

This Saturday, February 10, 2024, husband and wife duo Darren and Gloria Hagood are fostering a nurturing haven—a dedicated community tailored specifically for Black people to “Heal Your Love” at the Christina Seix Academy, 1550 Stuyvesant Ave Trenton, New Jersey.

The Hagoods have been convening members of the African American community across the country for immersive two-hour-long healing sessions, seamlessly blending meditation, breathwork, and sound baths. Gloria (an area native) notes the unique experiences shared by African Americans, which have roots in historical and sometimes present-day trauma, can affect us at our core. “That’s why it’s so important for us to remind ourselves that we are forever loved regardless of any of those things that happened. The best way for us to do that is to be present, still, and take deep breaths.”

Nearly 45% of residents who live in Trenton are identified as Black or African American, according to the 2022 United States Census, and they serve as the Hagood’s target demographic. “There is a large percentage of people of color in the city of Trenton. So many research studies have shown African Americans experience high levels of stress and anxiety that affect our communities at higher rates than other communities. We need to have tools and resources to manage these things at home. We are able to offer that. Our desire is to be able to offer this in more cities that are just like Trenton. We need mental health tools we can take home to bring about wellness and change,” Gloria said.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Both overt and covert acts of racism influence the psyche of African Americans … Throughout American history, African American people have suffered from physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological trauma during enslavement, the Jim Crow era, and the Civil Rights Movement. Recent cases of police brutality and divisiveness of the current sociopolitical climate are evidence of continued racial oppression and explicit and implicit biases against African Americans. Acts of covert racism can take the form of microaggressions or slights that leave the recipient with a perceived sense that an act of prejudice occurred toward them during the interaction. Experiencing frequent microaggressions may cause chronic stress and/or adverse health behaviors, either of which can lead to mental and physical health consequences.”

“Science shows that when we focus our breathing in the diaphragm, where all the stress we carry is held in, it triggers the parasympathetic nervous system that says to our body that we are calm and safe,” said Gloria. “The focus is on doing those deep breaths so we can release stress and anxiety. There are also sound frequencies that bring about the same release. Those are the sounds that come out of the bowls.”

At the height of COVID, the Hagoods found themselves simultaneously fighting injustices while working stressful, demanding jobs and watching as the same was going on in the outside world. “This brought a lot of stress onto our bodies. Spiritually, we needed help … a lifeline. And that’s when we fell across breathwork and sound healing online.”

Throughout their journey of attending breathwork and sound healing sessions, the Hagoods not only discovered life-changing benefits such as improved sleep and reduced anxiety but also recognized a remarkable opportunity for their community, as there was a significant absence of diversity in these spaces.

“We found a need for us to be in our own communities, around people who have experienced the same challenges that come with being Black in America. Black people can have a safe space to heal and get rid of the stressors we deal with in community with each other…there’s power in community,” said Gloria. And from that, Healyourlove was born.

“Heal your love period. We are called that because we truly believe that healing is our only job. Healing your love is your only job period.”

In addition to this Saturday’s in-person group session, the Hagoods also offer individual sessions which can be booked online at Healyourloveperiod.com. Additional information and guidance can also be found on their YouTube channel.

Both Darren and Gloria Hagood have their Master of Divinity. In addition, Gloria has trained to become a board-certified chaplain and Darren is working on a Ph.D that studies how breathwork relates to spirituality. The Hagoods can be found online at Healyourloveperiod.com.

To get tickets to Saturday’s event, click here.