Women’s Wellness Retreat
Elevate, Empower, Enlighten, and Enrich
story by MICAH PEPPERS
The Women’s Wellness Retreat (WWR) is excited to launch its in-person event at the USCB Center for the Arts from March 17-19. The mission statement of the WWR is to “Elevate, Empower, Enlighten, and Enrich” the lives of women by encouraging well-being in multiple facets and all life stages. Since the concept of “wellness” has such a broad concept and can mean such different things to each woman, WWR presents workshops designed to help women enhance their lives in various ways, covering financial, physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness throughout the weekend. Women attending the event will also have the opportunity to meet and network with other women at the workshops.
The concept of a women’s wellness event originated in 2019 when a committee of local women of various professions, interests, and ideas combined forces to make the Women’s Wellness Retreat a reality. The first weekend-long event was originally scheduled for March 2020; however, it was canceled only a week prior due to the pandemic. The WWR committee believed so strongly in the concept and the value of such a resource in our community that they rescheduled to an online event in 2021 with the only in-person event, a 5K, kicking it off. While the virtual event was successful, it inevitably did not allow for the hands-on, personal interactions that the Women’s Wellness Retreat committee sought.
With added COVID precautions in place, WWR is gearing up for its in-person debut in March 2022. There will be workshops, speakers, a health fair, a women’s-only 5K race, and more. Masks are mandatory inside USCB Center for the Arts, and attendance is reduced for the safety and comfort of all.
To get the event underway, on Saturday, March 5, the Wellness 5K Run/Walk will take place in downtown Beaufort. This is a sanctioned 5K for women of all ages and fitness levels. WWR encourages runners and walkers to dress as a woman (famous or not) who has had a positive influence in her life. In 2021, there were superheroes, Supreme Court Justices, famous actresses, a military fighter pilot, and a few “Rosie the Riveter” gals. Come out for a fun day of fitness, fellowship, and beautiful views. For details and to get registered, go to www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com.
Just over a week later, on Thursday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m. EST, there will be a film panel discussion entitled, Sisterhood: SC Suffragists, Clubwomen, the Pollitzer Sisters & The Vote. The SC League of Women Voters sponsors the discussion. It will feature a diverse panel of speakers, including Susan Pringle Frost, Eulalie Salley, Marion Birnie Wilkinson, and the Pollitzer Sisters — Mabel, Carrie, and Anita, daughters of a prominent Jewish family from Charleston. As the national debate for suffrage became more visible, these notable women became increasingly engaged in the social and educational reform. Attend the presentation and listen in as these often overlooked rebels discuss their roles in the movement. The presentation is free, and the public is invited. Preregistration is required at www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com.
The keynote speakers for the 2022 WWR are Polly Sheppard, a survivor of the mass shooting at Charleston’s Mother Emmanuel Church, and Margaret Seidler, a descendant of a trader of enslaved people. The event, “Two Women Bridge the Racial Divide,” takes place at USCB Center for the Arts on Friday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. EST. The women will share the story of how they met and forged an incredible bond and friendship when they embarked on a journey of discovery, healing, and transformation. This inspirational presentation is also free, and the public is invited. Preregistration is required at www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Women’s Wellness Retreat’s headline sponsor, will be at the Center for the Arts with their new mobile unit CHiP (Community Health Improvement Program) on Saturday, March 19. Beaufort Memorial staff will administer free and reduced-cost testing and health information on-site. Additionally, there will be a health fair on the lawn throughout the day, and vendors will include various health and fitness-related businesses, practices, and experts. Visitors can enjoy yoga, massage therapy, and more.
Workshops will take place throughout the day in the USCB Center for the Arts classrooms. Sign up for a self-defense class, estate planning workshop, caregiver course, meditation class, and so much more! All workshops are $10 per person and require preregistration.The WWR committee truly feels that there is a workshop for everyone. Class details, instructors, times, and locations are available at www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com.
