An instrument in the health and wellness access revolution that is reshaping the United States, Seobia Rivers wants to make healthy affordable and available to marginalized communities. Raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Seobia, who is the fitness director at Healthy Hood, is on a mission to change the landscape of Chicago’s neglected neighborhoods, at least when it comes to health.

As a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer, Seobia has dedicated her professional life to making sure that marginalized people especially can better themselves through a healthy lifestyle. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and has been active in the field since 2011. During Chicago’s warmer months, she led Saturday-morning workouts in different parts of the city. Her Instagram feed and stories promote a healthy lifestyle while supporting black-owned businesses, such as B’Gab’s Goodies, known for making all things vegan delicious.

When her friend Tanya Lozano decided to open up Healthy Hood in 2016, Seobia didn’t hesitate to get involved. Her joining community the non-profit organization was a no brainer decision, and she plans to remain a part of it forever.

“Working at Healthy Hood was my first time seeing fitness and health as revolutionary. We are intentionally working against the system that’s set up for marginalized people to fail. And we are being used as instruments to combat that system.”

The $5 classes at Healthy Hood are nothing short of a family gathering, except if everyone got together to work out. They are, most importantly, a safe space and an option for people who can’t afford expensive gym memberships. (For more on Healthy Hood, check out our article with its founder, Tanya Lozano.)

“Me being a Black woman can be seen as a hardship, but also a blessing. That has been a big reason as to why I care so much about Healthy Hood and its mission. Because I’m helping other marginalized people, other Black women, to get better, to get healthier.”

Seobia, who calls herself The Fitness and Health Creative, uses a holistic approach when it comes to teaching and promoting the lifestyle fitness, health, and overall wellness. Her classes are intentional, from the food for thought she offers to the playlists she curates.

These days, however, Seobia is taking a step back from teaching and training in order to go to physical therapy school. Helping people rehab from their injuries is one way for her to become better at what she does. In the future, she hopes to open up a clinic in one of Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods.

Giving back to the community is an important aspect of everyday life for Seobia. She recently started a book club with her friend to empower her peers through reading.

“It would be nice to encourage other people to read more, because one time as black people we weren’t able to read. Reading is power, it’s knowledge.”

And in continuing the trend of empowering her community, she reminds us that we don’t have to be rich to be kind. That goodness is done on a daily basis, and that it doesn’t require money or time, just a beating heart.

“People think they have to spend money or a lot of time to help people, but it’s about starting small. Give someone an encouraging word. Listen. Volunteer. Smile at people. Donate old clothes instead of selling them. Share the resources and knowledge that you have. That’s what’s going to help.”

Follow Seobia on Instagram at @itsseobia.

Seobia Rivers: When Health and Fitness Meet Creativity

“Working at Healthy Hood was my first time seeing fitness and health as revolutionary. We are intentionally working against the system that’s set up for marginalized people to fail. And we are being used as instruments to combat that system.”

“Me being a Black woman can be seen as a hardship, but also a blessing. That has been a big reason as to why I care so much about Healthy Hood and its mission. Because I’m helping other marginalized people, other Black women, to get better, to get healthier.”

“It would be nice to encourage other people to read more, because one time as black people we weren’t able to read. Reading is power, it’s knowledge.”