Hello, my name is Almetria (she/her) and I am a multi-hyphenate wellness disruptHER redefining holistic and maternal health to improve better performance, positive outcomes and healthier lifestyles.
As a native Memphian and product of Orange Mound, I graduated with honors from White Station High School and earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Memphis, a Certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University, a Certificate in Community Health from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and a Certificate in Diabetes Prevention from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health.
Along with Roots and River Wellness, I am the proud owner of Fit and Finally Free, a lifestyle, weight management and fitness company, RunHer Performance, a run coaching and event management company helping runners train smarter not harder while improving performance, crushing goals and preventing injuries and Morning by Mourning an end of life doula service that provides physical, emotional, informational and sometimes spiritual support to compassionately help guide terminally ill people and their loved ones through the dying and grief process.
I am a huge advocate of holistic, community health and wellness after having experienced my own wellness journey.
I’ve been featured on NBC’s, “The Today Show,” the national running publication, “Women’s Running Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Redbook Magazine, Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Oz online, TBN, Yahoo Health, The Huffington Post, The Daily Mail UK, CNN, Memphis Health and Fitness Magazine, Nashville Fit Magazine, The Best Times Newsmagazine, Everyday Birth Magazine, the Southern Women’s Show, Memphis Voyager, Canvas Rebel Magazine, Corepower Yoga, Kidding Around Yoga, RoadID, local news outlets and many other national and international media outlets.
I got into birthwork after hearing about the Black maternal morbidity and infant mortality rates within Shelby County and the US. Life has a way of bringing your purpose full circle because while I was in high school, I wanted to become a pediatrician, but I decided to take a different path once I got to college. Here I am almost 30 years later working with women, birthing people and babies but just in a different capacity.
Representation matters to me and I will always fight for racial, social and reproductive justice in my community and through my efforts in making or changing state and national legislation regarding maternal health and health equity.
While I serve all of my clients with the utmost of wraparound holistic care, my focus is with my black and brown families due to the social determinants of health and the unfortunate systemic and institutional racism that’s found in healthcare.
Everyone deserves holistic support throughout the perinatal process whether it’s going through IVF/RIVF, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, or loss in regards to having a safe, calm, dignified and empowered birth and postpartum process at home, within a birthing center or hospital.
I would love to work with you throughout your perinatal journey whether it’s through birth and postpartum doula support, perinatal fitness, yoga, or mental health support, lactation, infant safety or childbirth education classes, nutritional counseling, or meal preparation as you expand, educate and empower your family towards holistic health and wellness for generations to come.
•BADT (Birth Advocacy Doula Training)
Trained Full Spectrum Birth Doula
•BADT (Birth Advocacy Doula Training)Trained Postpartum Doula
•DONA(Doulas of North America)Trained Birth Doula
•INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association)Trained End of Life Doula
•QUILT by Nneka Hall Certified PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss) Doula
•BADT (Birth Advocacy Doula Training) Trained Childbirth Educator
•Cornerstone (Cornerstone Doula Training) Trained Childbirth Educator
•Breastfeed LA Certificated Lactation Educator Specialist
•DONA Trained Community Lactation Educator
•Nurturely Milk Magic Community Lactation Educator
•A More Excellent Way Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
•Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Certified Community Health Worker
•The Renewell Foundation Certified Maternal Mental Health Community Health Worker
•Men’s Health Network Certified Men’s Health Educator
•National Highway Traffic Safety Patrol Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician
•Utah State University Extension Certified Community Nutrition Educator and Create Better Health SNAP-ED Nutrition Educator
•National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome Certified Period of PURPLE Crying Trainer
•Nurturing Parenting Certified Nurturing Parenting Facilitator
•Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Certified CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach
•AimHiTN (Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee) Certified Infant Mental Health Endorsed (Family Associate)
•American Red Cross Certified American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR AED and Basic Life Support Instructor
•RRCA (Road Runners Club of America)Certified Adult Distance Run Coach
•RRCA Certified Race Director
•USATF (United States of America Track and Field)Certified Level One Track and Field Coach
•USATF Level Two Sports Science
•USATF Certified Level Two Endurance Coach
•USATF Certified Marathon Specialist Coach
•USATF Certified Cross Country Specialist Coach
•USATF Certified Official
•NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Cross Country Coach
•RunDNA Certified Level One Running Gait Analyst
•Girls Gone Strong Certified Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Coach
•Yoga and Ayurveda School (Yoga Alliance) Registered 200-HR Vinyasa Yoga Instructor
•CorePower Yoga (Yoga Alliance) Registered 200-HR Yoga Sculpt Yoga Teacher
•Trinatal Yoga School/Utah Prenatal Yoga (Yoga Alliance) Registered 85-HR Prenatal Yoga Teacher
•Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga (Yoga Alliance) Registered 85-HR Prenatal Yoga Teacher
•Kidding Around Yoga (Yoga Alliance) Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher
•Cosmic Kids Yoga (Yoga Alliance) Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher
•Yoga Beans (Yoga Alliance) Certified Baby Yoga Teacher
•Yoga and Ayurveda School (Yoga Alliance) Certified Chair Yoga Teacher
•Yoga and Ayurveda School (Yoga Alliance)
Certified Restorative Yoga Teacher
•Yoga and Ayurveda School (Yoga Alliance) Certified Ayurveda Specialist
•Yoga Renew (Yoga Alliance) Certified Mindfulness Yoga Teacher
•Yoga Renew (Yoga Alliance) Yoga for Athletes Training
•FITOUR Certified group exercise, indoor cycling, mat pilates, barre, myofascial release foam rolling
•Les Mills Certified Body Pump Instructor
•National Council for Mental Wellbeing Certified Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid Responder
•National Council for Mental Wellbeing Certified Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor
•Certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper
•National Alliance on Mental Illiness (NAMI) Certified Peer to Peer Leader
•TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Peer Recovery Specialist Training
•Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association Peer Center Certified Peer Counselor Training
•NJ Prematurity Preventive Initiative
Certified Power of Our Voices Black Maternal & Child Health Trainer
•American Heart Association Certified BLS/CPR/First Aid Responder
•Santiago Canyon College Introduction to Medical Terminology Training
•Family Equality Open Door Beyond Diversity: LGBTQ+ 101, Trans Fertility Considerations, and Rainbow Flags: Building an Inclusive Practice Training
•The Institute for The Study of Birth, Breath and Death Holding Space Pregnancy Loss Training
•The Institute for The Study of Birth, Breath and Death Racism, Loss and Companioning Training
•Nurturely Racism in Perinatal & Pediatric Health Training
•The Center for Community Health Alignment Chronic Disease Prevention & Management Training
•The Center for Community Health Alignment Health and Racial Equity Training
•The Center for Community Health Alignment Lupus Training
•Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Race, Ethnicity and Social Determinants of Health in Diabetes Care and Management Training
•Arkansas Community Health Worker Association Essentials of Oral Health Training
•BADT Racism and Privilege in Birthwork Training
•BADT Crisis Response in Birthworkers Training
•Nurturely Babywearing & Breastfeeding Workshop
•Hood Herbalism Herbal Medicine in Birthwork Training
•Tennessee Department of Health Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training
•Tennessee Department of Health Narcan/Naxolone Training
•ChildcareED Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma
•Postpartum Support International Maternal Rage: Implications & Interventions Training
•Seleni Institute Basics of Perinatal Mental Health Training
•Commissioned and Appointed Tennessee Department of Health Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Prevention Team Member
•Cribs for Kids National Program Advisory Board Member
•United States Lactation Consultant Association National Advisory Board Member
•Tennessee Department of Health Infant Mortality Advisory Committee Member
•The Educated Birth Reproductive Health Peer Reviewer
•Postpartum Support International Blue Dot Project Ambassador
•Postpartum Support International Perinatal Mental Health Alliance Member
•Tennessee Department of Health Disparities Task Force Member
•Tennessee Department of Health Council Community of Practice Member
•Shelby County Health Dept. Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Community Action Team Member
•Shades of Blue Perinatal Mental Health Ambassador
•Postpartum Support International Perinatal Mental Health Tennessee Volunteer Coordinator
•Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Milestone Circles Alumnae/Member
•The Black Excellence Society Member
•National Association of Community Health Workers Member
•Southeast Community Health Worker Network Member
•Team Game Changers Women of Color RRCA Certified Running Coach Mentor
•Google Certified I Am Remarkable Facilitator
•Junior League of Memphis Sustainer
•Training Collaborative of Junior Leagues Facilitator and Advisory Board Member
•United States of America Track and Field Association of Tennessee Executive Board Secretary and USATF Women’s Commission TN Rep
•Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
•Yoga Alliance
•ForbesBLK
•Tennessee Department of Maternal Mortality Strategic Planning Sub Committee (former member)
•Tennessee Department of Maternal Mortality Task Force (former member)
•March of Dimes Tennessee Community Accountability Panel (former member)
Memphis Doulas • Black Doula • Memphis Birth Doula • Roots and River Wellness • Memphis, TN 