Founder of Sacramento’s Self Care Sundays builds community focused on improving wellness
Nicole Carmier-Hatch — a mother, wife, real estate agent and business owner — has many demands on her time, but she also knows that self-care, which she defines as “selfishly working on your own well-being,” is important in being able to show up for others.
Carmier-Hatch started her Sacramento-based nonprofit organization, Self Care Sundays, in 2020 when families were forced to stay at home and social distance from the general public.
“People were isolated and alone, itching to be around others,” Carmier-Hatch said.
These Sundays offered attendees the opportunity to build wellness through low-impact workout sessions, followed by bottomless mimosas.
What began as a bi-weekly event focused on wellness, grew into a once a month celebration that builds community. Self Care Sundays welcomes people from all walks of life, no matter their age, race, gender or sexual orientation.
Through her nonprofit, Carmier-Hatch encourages people to take care of themselves through outlets such as yoga, Pilates being around other people, listening to music and “vibing,” her term for enjoying positive energy and community.
Creating space for a diverse community has been key to Carmier-Hatch’s vision for the events.
“That was one of the things that was a huge factor in regards to Self Care Sundays, (many) of our yogis and instructors for workshops are people of color,” Carmier-Hatch said. “It’s very cultural based. In creating this space I was focusing on the diversity of it.”
These events take place in various outdoor locations, such as Esther’s Park and Drake’s: The Barn.
Why Sundays specifically?
Carmier-Hatch told The Sacramento Bee that Self Care Sundays aligns with the popular notion of “Sunday Fun Day” and encourages individuals to embrace a wellness-oriented approach to that day of the week, allowing people to start their week feeling refreshed, revitalized, and ready to take on new challenges.
“Your mind is the strongest part of your body, make sure that you take care of it,” Carmier-Hatch said.
The first event was held in 2020 at Esther’s Park in Oak Park. Only 12 people attended the first event, Carmier-Hatch told The Bee, but it became something people looked forward to.
Sylvia Castro, a Sacramento teacher, was among those initial attendees and has continued to participate over the past few years.
“It was 2020 so it was just nice to be outside, on the grass, doing some yoga. It was just really enjoyable to get outside and do something and be with other people and not be so stressed out about COVID at the time,” Castro said.
Castro, 47, said she had a good experience doing some stretching and then having a drink after.
“It’s a relaxed time with everyone around you that’s so friendly and nice,” said Castro.
Inaugural Wellness Festival
What started three years ago as smaller gatherings in parks has evolved into a daylong Wellness Festival.
The seven-hour event was held Saturday at 1808 R Street in midtown and welcomed over 1,000 attendees throughout the day. The day consisted of low-impact, cardio burning exercises such as yoga and Pilates, live performances and kids activities.
“With Self Care Sundays, we just want to make sure (people know) that it’s okay to be selfish. If you’re not 100%, you can’t move forward in your everyday life. That’s important. You have to focus on you,” Carmier-Hatch said.
Poteesa Enakaya is a yoga instructor that Carmier-Hatch invites to help lead various group classes during Self-Care Sunday events. She also attended the festival.
One of the joys that Enakaya gets out of these events are the diversity in guests that attend.
“Like as you look around, you see men, women — both young and old — and kids out there doing yoga, all different races, just having a good time coming together and enjoying an amazing space together,” Enakaya said
For Enakaya, it’s important to love yourself, and take care of yourself in order to take care of others.
“You cannot pour from an empty cup,” said Enakaya. “You have to be able to be able to fill yourself, so that you feel good, you feel wonderful.”
A form of self-care and wellness can also be expressing oneself through documenting one’s thoughts and experiences in life in a journal.
That’s what mindset coach and community leader Ajanea Nicholas is teaching people through her community organization, SafePlce. She attended Self-Care Sunday as a vendor representing her organization, providing positive affirmations and good energy to those who stopped by her canopy.
Nicholas wrote an interactive workbook journal titled “Discovering the Real You” to help individuals release their negative thoughts and focus on trying to heal.
Nicholas used her own experiences as fodder for the journal she published, and she hopes that it would change the lives others.
“You are going to go through a journal that’s intentionally triggering you. You’re going to have bad days,” Nicholas said. “It’s more of the mindset of being able to overcome challenges, the mindset to see difficulty and find the positive solution.”
If you go to the next Self-Care Sundays event
What: Self Care Sundays: Color Yoga + Pride 2023 + More.
When: June 11
Where: Drake’s: The Barn, 985 Riverfront Street, West Sacramento
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Tickets starting at $25
More info: www.instagram.com/selfcaresundays_sac
This story was originally published June 1, 2023 at 5:00 AM.