• Content May 2025,  Mental Health South Asian Women

    Making Space for Me: Designing a Culturally Safe Self-Care Practice

    Introduction Self-care is often portrayed as face masks, bubble baths, and expensive getaways. But for South Asian women, self-care can look radically different—and often, it must. With cultural expectations, family responsibilities, and the lingering weight of generational guilt, “taking time for yourself” can feel like a rebellion. What if, instead of adopting a Western blueprint, we reimagined self-care rooted in cultural understanding and emotional safety? This blog post explores what a culturally safe self-care practice can look like for South Asian women—one that honors our heritage while prioritizing our well-being. Why “Traditional” Self-Care Doesn’t Always Fit The mainstream self-care narrative often ignores the complexities of being a South Asian woman.…

  • Content May 2025,  Mental Health South Asian Women

    Self-Care Isn’t Always Candles and Baths: What It Looks Like for South Asian Women

    Opening Reflection Self-care has been marketed as lavender baths and $40 face masks. But for many South Asian women, it’s not aesthetic — it’s survival. Self-care looks like setting boundaries with toxic relatives, reclaiming time to rest without guilt, and quietly unlearning generations of silence and shame. It’s messy. It’s radical. And it’s necessary. The Reality of Self-Care in South Asian Homes In many South Asian households, the idea of putting yourself first is labeled selfish or shameful. Women are expected to be caregivers, emotional anchors, and problem-solvers — often at the cost of their own mental and physical health. So the version of self-care we’re sold online doesn’t always…