We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlene Muhammad. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlene below.

Alright, Charlene thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

As long as I can remember, I had an interest in natural healing. I love being outdoors exploring nature and believe that as creatures of the earth, human life can and is supported by our natural surroundings.

My journey in wellness work begin with the birth of my sons. Both were born at home with a midwife who is also a naturopathic doctor. My midwife taught me basic home remedies to care for the well-being of my little family. This curiosity grew to understanding the concept of food as medicine so I joined a local food co-op and volunteered to provide store tours that taught me about the value of whole foods and eating locally.

As I “practiced” on my little family, my extended family and friends began to ask me for advice about natural healing remedies and other ways of keeping themselves and their love ones healthy. I was also practicing yoga- a gift of movement that my mother shared with me as a young adult. Informally, nutrition, herbal medicine and yoga were incorporated into my lifestyle.

When my sons entered high school, I decided to study the healing arts on a formal basis. I completed a Masters in Herbal Medicine from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (then known as Tai Sophia Institute). I also received my certification as a Nutrition Specialist and became a Licensed Dietitian. Along the way (smile) I completed yoga teacher training (although I had no intention of teaching yoga, I wanted to deepen my own yoga practice.)

With all these tools in my toolbox, I had no idea how to actually build a business. Am I an herbalist? Nutritionist? Yoga Teacher? At the beginning, I offered all three practices separately. Three separate business plans, business cards, business pitches, etc. It was confusing to me and also potential clients. Professional coaching assisted me in recognizing the vision for my work. All of the knowledge I had acquired were “tools for my toolbox”- my vision for my business is supporting folks towards embracing healthier lifestyles. The tools I acquire can be adapted to support clients in individualized ways depending on where they are in their wellness journey.

Starting out in my business, I was all over the place, attempting every marketing gimmick that was offered to me. I also rented office space that quickly depleted my resources because I did not have a significant client base to support a rental agreement. Pivoting back, I created a “home office” and offered classes and consultants in the community where space was free or where I could agree to a “split” in the fee for service with the owner. Offering community classes for a nominal fee or free brought in more clients as I gain more community exposure. Word of mouth continues to be the best marketing for my business.

Currently, I mentor and coach young folks starting out in the healing arts. Recalling my own support from my midwife, I am mentoring yoga teachers for the Yoga 4 Arthritis certification program and nutritionists preparing for board certification. I enjoy sharing advice and exploring possibilities with my mentees. Coaching is invaluable to seeing the big picture of one’s vision.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a wellness practitioner, embracing the spirit of natural living for over 30 years. My practice is predicated on formal Master’s level training as well as my own personal use of plants, food as medicine and movement therapy, giving me hands-on relationship and knowledge of these traditional healing modalities.

My wellness practice, Urbanherbalist, focuses on supporting clients with a practical application to optimal health by using the healing tools that I’ve grown to embrace in my own personal life: herbal medicine, nutrition and yoga.

My journey began in my 20s around the time I completed my undergraduate work at Cornell University. Having landed a “dream” job, working for corporate America on Park Avenue in New York City, I found life away from the beautiful gorges of Ithaca stressful. My mother suggested I take a yoga class. One year later, I decided to get out of a city that has buildings so high they hide the sky, and relocated to Seattle, Washington.

Life in Seattle brought many changes, including the birth of two sons. I had the great fortune of giving birth at home with a Naturopathic doctor and midwife who taught me how to care for my budding little family using plants and nutrition. As I learn things, I began to share my new knowledge and experience with friends and family. The more I shared, the bigger my role became in the community and so the more knowledge I strived to gain.

After years of experiential knowledge growth, I decided it was time to study traditional healing practices more formally. I knew intuitively that plants and good nutrition supported optimal health, yet wanted to learn the science behind it. For me, understanding the sciences provides great clues to understanding the nuances of nature. What better way to get to know one’s self better than to study the nature of human life? I also believed that this would provide me with the compassion to work with clients who are struggling with their own understanding about health and wellness.

As an experienced wellness practitioner, motivating clients is key to the healing process. I support clients from various cultures and communities that provide me with insight to the basic needs and desires of humanity. I learned that most health challenges are multi-dimensional impacting the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves. This understanding informs my wellness practice. The wellness protocols for my individualized clinical practice and key messages in lectures and workshops reflect this holistic approach to healing.

WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS
As a clinical-based healing practice, my goal is to support optimal health and nutrition. I provide complementary herbal medicine & nutritional consultations, private and group Yoga instruction and health promotion activities like lectures and workshops to a variety of clients with a host of health concerns and lifestyle goals. With proper nutritional, movement (yoga) and lifestyle changes, my clients reach and maintain their health goals.

Yoga Therapy
60-minute consultation

Yoga therapy begins by gathering information about your past health history, review of your lifestyle factors such as diet and movement and a discussion about your current health concerns. Together, we establish a goal for your future health.
An individualized therapeutic Hatha yoga practice/protocol is designed for you that focus on the principles of physical alignment and strategies for pain relief. As a practicing herbalist and certified nutrition specialist, I may also offer dietary and supplement strategies in addition to the individualized yoga practice.

Nutrition/ Herbal Consultation
90-minute consultation

Wellness consultations usually take about 90 minutes. During that time, I gather information about your past health history, reviews lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, discusses your current health concerns and set goals for your future health. Herbal strategies may be recommended at that time. I also recommend that my clients have two to three follow up sessions in which we track health status goals.

I’ve presented workshops and lectures at local, regional, national, and most recently international venues:
• Yoga as a Peace Practice (2022). Black Yoga Teachers Alliance. Upstate Circle of Friends, Greenville, SC. Lead Facilitator.
• Global Yoga Therapy Day Conference (2021) Keynote: Health equity and access to care: yoga’s important role in healing.
• City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning Annual Pre-service Institute: Leading with Equity: Adapting an adaptive lens that is anti-bias, anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive (2021). Workshop: Mindfulness Practices for Early Childhood Educators.
• Love Yoga Studio, Hyattsville, Md. (2019-2022) Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer. Developed 75 hours of Yoga Alliance Core Competencies for the YTT200 hour teacher training program.
• United Yoga Studio, YTT300 Teacher Training program, Los Angeles, CA. (2021, 2022) Trainer. Teaching Yoga for Students with Mixed Abilities.
• The PEACES Collective virtual Wisdom, Wellness and Wealth series. (2020) Workshop: Self-care during COVID-19.
• Single Parent Conference Montgomery College, Rockville, MD (2017-2020) Workshops: Mindfulness Meditation; Chair Yoga.
• Yoga as Lifestyle Medicine. (2017 & 2020) Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC. Panelist: Teaching Yoga for Mixed Abilities.
• Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center, Columbia, MD (2010-2020) Various workshops and seminars on yoga, nutrition, preventive health, and healthy lifestyles targeting the greater Howard County community’s Healthy Howard Campaign.
• Rural Coalition Winter Forum, Washington, DC (2012) Plenary Session: Reflections on Health, Nutrition and Community Wellness.
• Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (2010 – 2011) Developed and implemented B’more for Healthy Babies campaign to encourage and support low-income women’s healthy weight loss and diet strategies; provided individualized nutrition consultation to clients; developed web-based nutrition resources for organization’s website; facilitated nutrition workshops for staff.

I’ve published in professional journals and publication such as the International Association of Yoga Therapists Yoga Therapy Today; Yoga Journal and the International Journal of Yoga Therapy (see resume for a full list of publications).

My colleague Marilyn Peppers- Citizen and I are publishing a book in April 2024 through Handspring Press: “Yoga and the Black Community: Healing Practices and Principles.”  The book explores key core yoga teacher training competencies (yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama, and mediation) within the African American cultural context. Key concepts include Black cultural norms around pain, trauma, and resilience; cultural and religious taboos of yoga in the Black community; historical use of natural modalities of healing in the Black community; and the practical application and applications of traditional yogic principles within Black cultural norms.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Healing arts practitioners must have a personal “healing” practice and consider themselves life-long learners Although there is a commercialized appeal to the healthy lifestyle industry, the successful practitioner, practices what they preach! Healing arts practitioners must love reading and researching and studying as the field is constantly changing. Learning how to research will assist you in discerning fact from fiction. Learning and studying the knowledge of self- what does it mean to be human? – is key.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Entrepreneurial Nutritionist by Kathy King Helm is a comprehensive book on developing a business plan and practice. Although the focus highlights or features the nutrition profession, the concepts are adaptable for all business types.

“Build the D-AM Thing: How to start a successful business if you’re not a rich white guy” by Kathryn Finney is a motivational coaching book with practical step-by-step exercises for creating and launching a business. It’s a down-to-earth read with lots of humor that keeps you motivated to read, learn and do!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.urbanherbalist.org
• Instagram: @urbanherbalist19
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theurbanherbalistofmd
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/charlene-muhammad-ld-c-iayt-41a0a610
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAyo67FOnWRK-Lz2mBhDkOA