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Ewunike Akpan

@ewunikeakpan

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Women's Wellness Advocate
Wellness Retreats | Teaching holistic practices you can apply today to live, feel & be well

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Did YOU think I could raise $5,000 for a health crisis halfway across the world, in the heart of Africa? Well, I always knew I could. And guess what...WE DID IT. And we didn't just hit the goal; we surpassed it!"

Because of the doTERRA Healing Hands matching program, $5,000 was matched, and THANKS to YOU, we were able to send more than the initial goal of $10K to the @basandja.coalition This community-led organization on the ground in the Congo has been responding to this Ebola outbreak from the very beginning!

I have to give some very special recognition. My cousin Steven, who donated $1,000. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to Reverend Doctor Wendell Anthony and my first church family, Fellowship Chapel in Detroit, Michigan: you all collectively donated $7,500 in less than two weeks. And my amazing MOM, who sent 100+ text messages and made follow-up phone calls to her friends and community about this cause!

This Ebola outbreak in the Congo is now the largest in recorded history. As of August 25th: 5,656 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths. This is not over. The Basandja Coalition is still on the ground, and the need is still urgent.

If you were planning to give but didn't get the chance before we closed the campaign, or if you're just now seeing this on your feed, the need hasn't gone away. You can still give to the Ebola Relief effort at friendsofthecongo.org and 100% of your donation supports the Basandja Coalition's ongoing response on the ground. The link to the fundraiser is also in my BIO.

To everyone who gave, who shared, who sent a kind word, who prayed: thank you. This is what community looks like. This is what it means to *Stand With the Congo.* We did this together, and I could not be more grateful. Let's Stand With the Congo!" 🙏🏾

#congo #ebolarelief #healthcrisis #friendsofthecongo #standwiththecongo by @ewunikeakpan

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a month ago

Some people ask why fund a local organization instead of a large international one. This video is your answer.

The Basandja Coalition has been on the ground in the Congo since day one of this outbreak, distributing protective equipment, educating communities, and going door to door in places no outside organization can reach.

This is what a community-led response looks like. And every dollar raised through my doTERRA Healing Hands campaign is matched dollar 💵 for dollar 💵!

Your generous donations go directly to frontline organizers in the Basandja Coalition!

Link in bio. Let's Stand With the Congo. 🙏🏾

@CongoFriends @doTERRAHH @BasandjaCoalition

#StandWithCongo #EbolaRelief #BasandjaCoalition #Fundraiser #HealingHands by @ewunikeakpan

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3 months ago

Do you know about the health crisis the world isn't paying attention to?

The WHO (World Health Organization) has declared an Ebola emergency in the Congo.

As of July 4th: 1,561 confirmed cases and 506 deaths. No vaccine exists for this strain. This outbreak is spreading much faster than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the third largest on record.

The CDC says there's a 65% chance this becomes the worst Ebola outbreak in history unless we act NOW.

Some good news: Frontline organizers of the Basandja Coalition have been responding from the start!
They are distributing protective equipment, setting up hand washing stations, and going door-to-door in communities that no outside organization can reach.

And here's what makes this moment different: my doTERRA Healing Hands fundraiser was APPROVED. So, every dollar I raise is matched by the doTERRA Healing Hands program 🙏🏾

My goal is to raise $5,000, which means $10,000 will go directly to the ground in the Congo and to those who need it most.
$25 becomes $50
$50 becomes $100
That is REAL leverage. Your donation is tax deductible thanks to our partnership with @congofriends

Please DONATE and help me surpass this goa!!!

Link in bio. Let's Stand With the Congo 🙏🏾
@doTERRAHH @BasandjaCoalition

#StandWithCongo #EbolaRelief #HealingHands #doTERRAHealingHands #CongoFriends by @ewunikeakpan

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3 months ago

It was a beautiful Sunday, no agenda.
Just two girlfriends, sun on our skin, ocean in the background, accompanied by beautiful sisters of Playa.

My girl @ewunikeakpan finally got her little me time…
and we ended the day smiling over vegan tacos.
She was a skeptic, but I think I got her converted 😌 I see you Ewu!

Simple. Easy. Good all the way through. by @ewunikeakpan

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7 months ago

I've run 2 Marathons
3 Half marathons
2 Ten mile races
Countless 5K's
330 mile bike ride
A handful of biathlons
Completed in Olympic lifting & CrossFit events

And finishing this race, a simple 5K (3.2 miles) was the sweetest race so far

Crossing the finish line and my Tutu pie there to see me finish and greet me was the best 💞

I remember watching my mom run her first marathon (Detroit Free Press Marathon) when I was about 10 years old.

I'll never forget how excited I was to be at the race, seeing all the people cheering the runners on and then giving her a big hug when she crossed the finish line

Training for the 5K race in Cancun(my first event outside the US) was what I needed to help me get back into a "Can Do" mindset.

Not an "I HAVE to do" mindset

I've been in a bit of a slumber the past year or so. This stage of life is different!!!

And it feels good to challenge myself physically. The most consistent thing in my life that has helped
✨ Improve my mood
✨ Connect with a community
✨ Improve my health
✨ Step out of my comfort zone
✨ Try new things

I wouldn't be who I am today without my connection to life's experiences through self imposed physical challenges 😂

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here at 55 and still decide I Can Do that! So much of what you experience on race day is based on the way you spent the previous months preparing, our not for your event.

I'm back in training, cause I want to be as present, connected, excited, motivated and healthy for at long as possible.

#fitandfifty #5k #running #activemom #cancunmarathon by @ewunikeakpan

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8 months ago

#running #cancun #5k #cancunmarathon by @ewunikeakpan

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8 months ago

Not the way I feel!
#55 #running #5k #perimenopause #menopause by @ewunikeakpan

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8 months ago

𝟗𝟎 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 "𝐈'𝐌 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐓" 𝐭𝐨 "𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬."

I know you don't have time for hour-long meditation sessions or elaborate self-care routines. I know you're squeezing this scroll in between meetings, while dinner's cooking, or in the pickup line.

That's exactly why I'm giving you this.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟒-𝟕-𝟖 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡:
Inhale through your nose for 4 counts
Hold for 7 counts
Exhale through your mouth for 8 counts
Do it 3-4 times. That's it.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: That long exhale activates your vagus nerve - the main highway between your brain and your body that signals "we're safe now, you can relax." It literally tells your nervous system to hit the brake pedal.

Here's when I use it:
✨Before I respond to an email that made my blood boil
✨When my daughter is having a meltdown and I can feel myself about to join her
✨Middle of the night when my mind is racing through tomorrow's to-do list
✨Before a difficult conversation
✨When I notice my jaw is clenched or my shoulders are up by my ears

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐢𝐭? 𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀'𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 (Reassuring Blend) on your palms first, rub them together, cup your hands over your nose and mouth, and then do your 4-7-8 breathing. The oil's woody, floral scent helps anchor you even deeper into the calm.
This is what I call #DailyRetreating - taking 90 seconds to give yourself what you need in the moment. It doesn't have to be a yoga class or a spa day (though those are wonderful too!). Sometimes your daily retreat is just this breath in your car before you walk into the house.

🌬️Try it right now. Seriously. Put your phone down, do 3 rounds, and then come back and tell me what you notice.
Did your shoulders drop? Did your jaw unclench? Did something shift?
𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑳𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅. 💙

#BreathWork #NervousSystemRegulation #WomenOver40 #DailyRetreating StressRelief QuickReset EssentialOils by @ewunikeakpan

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9 months ago

I've been sitting with something important for a while now...

Over the past few months, I've watched so many women in my circle—brilliant, strong, accomplished women—tell me they're carrying emotions they don't know how to release.

Anger that shows up at the wrong times.
Grief they keep pushing down.
Anxiety that never quite goes away.

And here's what I know: You can't think your way out of emotions. But you CAN use ancient plant wisdom + modern nervous system science to process and release them.

I'm creating something to help. Stay tuned. 🌿

#NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalWellness #blackwomenwellness

Photo:@lovewhitsa by @ewunikeakpan

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9 months ago

3:47am. Wide awake. Heart racing. Chest tight.

You know that feeling? When your mind starts spinning through the mental checklist:
→ Did I forget my HRT shot this month?
→ Why is it so hot in here?
→ Those emails I need to send...
→ Everything. All at once.

I really didn't want to get out of bed. But I was WIDE awake, and I knew lying there ruminating wasn't going to help.

So I got up, grabbed my Adaptiv blend, and put a couple drops in my palms.

5 long, deep breaths in. Long exhales.

I rubbed the oil over my heart. Sat down. Eyes closed. 5 more minutes of intentional breathing.
My heart rate slowed. The tightness in my chest? Gone. I felt relaxed enough to go back to bed.
I had a restful night's sleep and woke up refreshed.

Here's what I know after 24+ years in wellness:
Your nervous system doesn't care about your to-do list. It just needs you to give it what it needs to regulate.

Sometimes that's as simple as:
✨ A calming essential oil blend
✨ Intentional breath work
✨ 5 minutes of presence

For women 40+, our bodies are navigating SO much - hormonal shifts, life transitions, responsibilities pulling us in every direction. Learning to regulate your nervous system isn't luxury self-care. It's survival care.

Last night, Adaptiv and some deep breaths helped me get centered and get the rest I needed to restore myself for the next day.

What helps YOU get back to center when anxiety shows up at 3am? 💙

#nervoussystem #womenover40 #menopausesupport #essentialoilsforwellness #doterraadaptiv taken in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo by @ewunikeakpan

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9 months ago

Happy birthday to my gorgeous friend @ewunikeakpan !! 🥳🥳🥳
55 never looked so fiiiiine!! #55 💫🥂💕
@ewunikea taken in Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo by @ewunikeakpan

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9 months ago

✨ Create Space to Breathe ✨
Join us for a restorative women’s wellness circle — a space to reset, reconnect, and refill your energy. 💛

🕯️ Expect gentle stretching, grounding breathwork, sound healing, essential oils, and heartfelt community connection. Together, we’ll release what’s heavy and step into a new week feeling lighter, calmer, and more aligned.

🧘🏾‍♀️ Sunday, October 26th
⏰ 2:00–3:30 PM
📍 2500 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC
🎟️ Free — RSVP link in bio

Bring your yoga mat, your breath, and an open heart. Let’s practice stillness, movement, and joy — together. 🌿

#CreateSpaceToBreathe #WellnessCircle #BlackWomenWellness #CommunityHealing #Breathwork #SoundHealing #MindfulMovement #WomenSupportingWomen #DCWellness taken in Washington, DC by @ewunikeakpan

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a year ago