In the realm of self-importance – due largely to necessity, habit and selflessness – a woman often places herself well behind the pack of motherhood, marriage and relationships, work and career and practically any roadblock of minutia that needs to be attended to. 

In the aftermath of such obligations, however, women are too often left cobbling together the unused tendrils of both their passions and their fears, their identity and their vulnerabilities. Too often, the veritable stuff of their core being remains a tangled web of misplaced dreams, occasionally tended to, like a hobby.

On April 28 at the Kennett Library, a full day is being dedicated to these women as a forum of sisterhood, connectivity and engagement, where all of the tangled webs of their well-being will be unfurled and shared.

The EmpowHer Women’s Wellness Retreat, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., will offer a ten-hour itinerary of discussions, workshops and networking, intended to inspire women to recognize – and engage – their well-being in a community of support and solidarity.

“Women put everyone else in their lives first all the time,” said EmpowHer Co-founder Sarah Nurry. “This day will be about taking the time for yourself and prioritizing your wellness.”

Featuring over 35 dynamic educators and thought leaders, EmpowHer will allow those who attend the opportunity to choose between an array of topics on wellness that include:

• Menopause 101: Understanding the changes, managing symptoms, and embracing this transformative phase with grace and confidence.
• Cognitive Health: Strategies for maintaining mental acuity and cognitive well-being as we age.
• Colon + Digestive Health: Discover the importance of gut health in maintaining vitality and preventing disease
• Geriatric Caregiving: Navigating the challenges and rewards of caring for aging loved ones with compassion and resilience.
• Financial Independence: Equipping women with the knowledge and resources to achieve financial autonomy and security.
• Aging Gracefully: Embracing the beauty of aging while prioritizing self-care, health, and vitality.
• Know Your Self-Worth: Cultivating self-love, confidence, and resilience to thrive in every aspect of life.
• Positivity Practices: Harnessing the power of positive thinking and mindfulness to enhance overall well-being and resilience.
• Creative Workshops: Engage in hands-on activities designed to unleash your creativity and inspire lasting moments of joy and self-expression.
• Yoga: Gentle/Chair/Slow/Strength/Relaxation & Meditation 
• Fitness Classes: Exhale, Pure Barre & Free Dance

Each ticket includes a nourishing breakfast, an organic salad bar lunch, a mocktail celebration, a personal journal and an EmpowHer long-sleeve t-shirt.

Guest speakers will include Telemundo62 weather anchor Janet Bolivar; Claire Gill, CEO of Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, who founded and launched the National Menopause Foundation; and Dr. Kathryn Ellis, an occupational therapist and a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators.

The first EmpowHer retreat, held in 2019, was inspired by an event Nurry attended in Philadelphia to promote the Mushroom Cap Half Marathon, an annual race in Kennett Square that she co-founded with Karen DiMascio that provides funding for local non-profit organizations.
“I came across a fitness event organized by City Fit Girls, and the comradery between those in attendance blew me away,” she said. “The energy was not only palpable, but it also grew throughout the day. By the end of that day, I knew that I wanted to bring the same kind of energy to an event dedicated to women to Kennett and Chester County. 

“At EmpowHer, you will be surrounded by women who come alongside you, cheer you on, and celebrate your journey with open hearts.”

For Co-founder Kara Gibbons, the magic of EmpowHer lies in what she calls “the powerful and emotional connection found in like-minded women coming together.” The owner of KSquared Health Coaching in Kennett Square, Gibbons was a guest speaker at the 2019 EmpowHer event, which she called a “one-day bond of sisterhood.”

“The challenging part of creating an event of this kind is getting women to advocate for themselves -- to say, ‘I deserve to skip my kids’ sports or miss a meeting and dedicate this day to me,’” she said. “It is our intention to tell them that they are worth that investment of time, and that they will not have to travel to New York City or Philadelphia to do it, because this gem of a wellness event is taking place at a state-of-the-art library in the Borough of Kennett Square. 

“They are going to leave the Kennett Library on April 28 telling themselves, ‘I should do this for myself more often.’”

The EmpowHer Women’s Wellness Retreat will take place at the Kennett Library on April 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is donating $10 from each participant ticket to Unite for HER, a regional nonprofit committed to helping local women diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer as they navigate their way through treatment to promote physical and emotional wellness. Each attendee is encouraged to bring feminine products that will be donated to Kennett Area Community Service (KACS). Those looking to attend fitness and yoga sessions are advised to arrive at the retreat dressed in activewear.

To learn more about EmpowHer and to register, visit empowher-ks.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].