We had the good fortune of connecting with Imari Alaji and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imari, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
There will always be people in your field doing some of the same things you are doing. There may even be people mimicking your exact style/ steps. However, no one is you… No one will ever be able to show up in the way that you do. No matter what anyone else is doing, always stay in tune and in alignment with your purpose, your goals, your intentions, your passion, your vision, and your mission. How you show up in the world and touch the hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits of the people around you, and communities you enter is how you will be remembered, impactful, and successful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

As a professional Personal Fitness Trainer, Health/Wellness coach, stretch/yoga instructor, lifestyle /Mommy blogger; I understands that a big part of wellness can be attributed to physical fitness, however it takes having balance in your Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Emotional health to gain overall complete wellness and self care.
A large part of self care commitment is not only doing something “nice” for yourself, but making sure we are replenishing all of the care and love we give so freely and effortlessly to our community, children, partners, family, staff, jobs, career, daily.

I have a combined 17 years of experience in health, wellness, and fitness. From following my first love as a professional dancer in world renowned dance ensembles, to training under master yoga instructors, to gaining fitness certifications, to spending years learning massage/ stretch therapy, crystal healing, and much more. I take pride in knowing multiple angles of how to help incorporate wellness and healing practices for her fellow healers and community. I watched the women (people) in my family (older generations) live in a box. Conditioned to be, eat, think, feel, live, and love with confinement. Some of the people who came before me didn’t have a luxury to educate themselves on what it is to be fully liberated in how they think, eat, and care for themselves or others.

I am passionate about helping people transform the lives of others by showing them how to gain the tools to practice wellness daily, live a happy/healthy, and fulfilled life. I offer custom workout regimes, tailored meal plans, and individualized coaching to help build healthy and loving habits.

My wellness training like many others wellness professionals is not a trend, it’s a lifestyle. It stems from a very real place of survival. As a black (lower) “middle class” family, the opportunity/ options to raise a family in a healthy environment were slim to none, but my mother always made a way. Growing up it was tough to see black people being taken out by unhealthy living, eating, drinking and violence. We as a community weren’t being taught the proper things to consume for our wellbeing/ wellness. We never had establishments in our neighborhoods to encourage happy/ healthy lifestyles. There were liquor stores and fast food restaurants on every corner. My mother wanted more for her children. She dedicated her life to making sure we knew the importance of treating our minds, bodies, hearts, and spirits as a temple.

Growing up in Detroit as a young Black girl was rough. The mindset of my city at the time was lost and toxic. The surroundings were dangerous. And the options for wellness and holistic living were slim. I won’t get into all of the misfortunes, difficulties, and sorrows we had to face, I’m just eternally grateful that we survived them. Growing up my mother is a Wholistic Therapist who focused on natural herbs, teas, remedies and resources. Raising my siblings and I, She focused on healing her community through Colon therapy (colonics) along with other various wellness practices. My Father was a yoga instructor, Meditation specialist, and Tai chi instructor. My parents taught me early on the importance of living a healthy and holistic lifestyle.

At one point in my life I found myself extremely depressed. It was right after being injured from Dancing professionally with Forces of Nature Dance ensemble in New York City. Doctors told me I’d never be able to dance or “move in this way” ever again. After moving back home to MI, I felt helpless and completely alone. My injuries didn’t seem to be healing and physical therapy did not help. After a few months of seeing me in pain and sadness, My mother came to me looked me in my eyes and said “are you going to let someone who isn’t the governor of your body tell you what it can and cannot do?” “YOU command your body and tell IT what to do, how to be, how to heal, how to feel.” You think you can’t therefore you can not”.. Now tell yourself you can, and then do!”. That’s when I remembered the gift of Manifesting that she taught me and manifested my healing. I manifested a wonderful woman who eventually became my mentor. This beautiful woman (Kimberly Boyd) reintroduced me to yoga practice, and showed me how to heal my body through yoga and meditation. She reminded me of my greatness. She reminded me that giving up is never an option. It’s okay to have to sit in silence to welcome reflection into the mind/ body. It’s okay to be uncomfortable and still, but once you’ve gained the confidence and clarity that is needed in those quiet moments, you get back up and become even greater than even you could have imagined.

At SunFlo Wellness (my wellness community/company) we have created a safe space of productive intention, and mindful movement. SunFlo Wellness offers custom workout regimes, tailored meal plans, and individualized coaching to help build healthy habits. Meditate and move with me and watch your daily productivity grow, calmness/peace of mind improve. Your body will transform right in front of your eyes with SunFlo Wellness body sculpting workouts/ stretches. Mindful movement and meditation also increases blood flow, increases, work ethic, organizational skills, critical thinking, overall focus, concentration, and wellness improvement.

The NamaSlay Detroit movement is a secondary component under the SunFlo Wellness umbrella. At NamaSlay Detroit we create safe spaces for women of color to transform their lives through daily wellness practices. Our mission is to influence women/MOMz of all ages and backgrounds and provide services/products to aid in embracing our own standards of beauty, sensuality, self-worth, self-care, body adornment, and self-confidence.

Our healing sister circle happens once a month, and each month we find a venue/ studio space that uplifts creating safe spaces for women to dwell in the spirit of healing and wellness to gather in. NamaSlay Detroit provides sensual yoga, stretch, dance and mindful movement/ meditation/affirmation. This sister circle will allow us to truly Connected with our bodies, inner being and bring sensuality and pleasure into your movement/ practice. We focus on movement that welcomes softness, strength, stamina, flexibility, chakra healing, sensual healing, and endurance into the body…

Our NamaSlay sister circle includes discussions of healing sensual and sexual trauma from the inside out, Tapping Affirmations, sound bath, Guided Meditation, Sensual Yoga, Sensual dance/movement. For the ladies, we also provide wine/ refreshments, mats, And a Masseuse on site! The women who experience NamaSlay have nothing but wonderful experiences and we always have a blast!!!! This is a luxury experience you won’t want to miss being a part of!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday- Gym LA fitness, Sauna (Schvits Health Club), Brunch Whistle Stop, my place for a little R+R. Have her sit in/ help out with some of my client stretch sessions, Dinner at Fork in Nigeria”. Tuesday- Gym LA fitness, Sauna/ Jacuzzi, work. 10 Nail bar for mani/ pedis, lunch at Babo, Charles H. Wright museum for the AfroFuturism Costume exhibit, home for RR, light tour/shopping on Fashion Avenue (Livernois btw 6/8mile. Dinner at Pequeno Cantina.
Wednesday- Yoga class (trap yoga) Juice bar (juice joint), work. hangout Campus Martius area (ice skating), lunch at at Parc, Whole Foods on Mack for grocery shopping. Home for RR, cook dinner together invite more friends over to share.
Thursday- home made Breakfast, gym (spin class), work. lunch at Baobab Fare (South African restaurant). Go to Motown Museum. Home for RR, catch a show at Sound Bar/ Dinner at the Block, drinks at speaker box.
Friday- personal stretch/ Yoga session with me. Lunch at Central Kitchen or Dime Store. Shopping/ Sommer Set Mall. Home for RR. Get glammed. Dinner at Prime + Proper or ZuZu. Catch a show/ live music at The Jazz Cafe, Floods, or Spotlight. And maybe a lounge after somewhere like the Griot, Tv lounge, Society…
Saturday- rest/ brunch At Mimosa, visit the Dia or go See Beyoncé movie
Sunday- Tea Party brunch at the Whitney, mini bar crawl (mimosas only), home for RR. Go to lions game eat pizza and drink beer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, shoutout and praises to the most High. My family; my amazing and supportive Mother, Mama Talibah, my sister Shimekia, who is the ED of a Michigan/Detroit/Highland park based Energy Democracy/Solar Justice Organization called Soulardarity. My beautiful Son, who has elevated every aspect of my life. My Brother (rip) who was one of my first mentors, and amazing man/ father/ scholar/musician and achiever. My entire Detroit community including (Aisha Shule, DSA, Ngoma Za Amen-Ra culture Drum and Dance community, Urban Bush Woman and so many others). The Women in my community who took me through my rights of passage and showed me into womanhood. The friendships/ sister circles I have an established and been welcomed into.

Website: Sunflowellness.com

Instagram: @ImariAlaji, @Sunflowellness, @NamaSlay_Detroit

Twitter: ImariAlaji

Facebook: Imari Alaji

Yelp: SunFlo Wellness

Youtube: Imari Alaji

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMichigan is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.