Meet Shamora Wright: An entrepreneur championing Black wellness who found her path on local trails
“If you support Black women, and you support being healthy, and you want to get out into nature, then please come out, work out with us. Be out in nature with us.”
For years, Shamora Wright, founder of The Black Wellness Club, was an esthetician by trade, specializing in waxing. But one day, she had a realization — while she loved her work, it wasn’t the waxing itself that fulfilled her. It was the connection she found with other women in a space where they felt safe being vulnerable.
“We had a lot of very deep conversations in those wax sessions,” Wright said. “It wasn’t necessarily the waxing. It was being able to connect with other women and encourage each other while I was in my twenties, trying to figure out life away from home, in relationships, and dealing with my own insecurities in young adulthood and becoming a woman.”
Originally from Palm Springs, Wright lived in Daytona Beach, Fla., from 2010 to 2022. When she moved back to Palm Springs, she began working out and found a deep sense of joy in it. The previous year, her father had passed away, sparking an urgency to prioritize her health.
As she spoke with friends and family in the community, she learned that many women she had grown up with — as well as their mothers and grandmothers — had also passed away. She attributes this to the effects of COVID-19 and the challenges of entering the pandemic without a strong foundation of health.
“So when I moved back home, my focus was for my own personal health,” Wright said. “But I found that when I invited other people to work out with me or do some things to get out into nature, I held myself accountable, and then we started to change the way that we interacted with each other.”
Wright began expanding her efforts beyond her immediate family, reaching out to people she met at the gym or in the community and inviting them to work out, spend time in nature, and engage in activities that provided both physical and mental benefits. She saw these gatherings as a way to support healing and help the community process the grief it had been facing in recent years.
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With The Black Wellness Club, which officially launched March 1, Wright is on a mission to make physical and mental well-being accessible to the Black community in Palm Springs. She plans to host a series of upcoming events in partnership with local wellness providers and businesses, offering free services and activities to the Black community.
Her first event series, Black Women Hike, kicked off last Saturday with a hike on the Araby Trailhead.
The idea for Black Women Hike, which takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month, came from Wright’s own discovery of Palm Springs’ hiking trails after moving back from Daytona Beach.
“I never knew as a kid. I mean, I grew up here, we just weren’t into it, you know, my parents weren’t into hiking,” Wright said. She started inviting friends and family to join her on the trails, and soon, the idea expanded.
Through Black Women Hike, Wright wanted to ensure that the entire Black community felt welcomed and encouraged to explore outdoor activities.
“You don’t even have to be an experienced hiker. We’re new to this, you know. So all levels are welcome, even if you just started off,” Wright said. The first Saturday hikes will be more moderate, while the third Saturday hikes will be beginner-friendly.
The next Black Women Hike event will take place at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on March 15, from 8 to 10:30 a.m.
While Black Women Hike is the first event series, Wright is also working with local businesses to create experiences such as hot spring visits in Desert Hot Springs, horseback riding, reflexology sessions, and other wellness practices. She is also actively promoting Black-owned wellness businesses and personal trainers. Information on upcoming events will be available on The Black Wellness Club’s website.
Although The Black Wellness Club was created to ensure Black women feel welcomed in wellness spaces, Wright emphasized that everyone is invited to join the events.
“We are inclusive to any other group. If you support Black women, and you support being healthy, and you want to get out into nature, then please come out, work out with us. Be out in nature with us,” she said.
As a 36-year-old single mother of two, Wright realizes that she is part of the next generation of leaders in the community. She believes that helping others live long, healthy lives is an integral part of giving back.
“We are the ones that are setting things up for our children. We’re the ones that are at the city council meetings. We’re the ones that have to move the needle,” she said. “So it’s almost a personal responsibility for myself to make sure that my family has some legacy in this community, and that I’m also making sure that I’m the one that’s taking action and doing things to make sure that the community thrives.”
Get to know her better below.
Name: Shamora Wright
Age: 36
Occupation: Founder, Black Wellness Club
Where do you live? In Palm Springs
Years in the desert: Born and raised
What keeps you here? My family
Favorite time of the year: Winter in the desert is perfect. The air is crisp and the mountain views are gorgeous.
How do you beat the heat? Who beats the heat? Sunscreen & LA Beaches.
Personal philosophy: ”How does it feel to be you” – Doechii. I love this quote because it reminds me to check in with my body. It reminds me to center myself in the moment. Plus her music is empowering and uplifting.
Favorite place to eat: My favorite restaurant this season is Felipe’s in Palm Springs.
What’s the biggest issue facing our community? Wealth disparity in Palm Springs. Extreme wealth on one side (luxury homes, exclusive fitness clubs and private health care) while on the other end we have many working class families, especially Black and Latino communities, struggle to afford basic wellness resources.
Favorite place to go or thing to do: My favorite thing to do is hike. It is a hobby I am excited about pursuing. My favorite trail so far is Badlands in Indio.
Where would you take first-time visitors? On a morning hike through Badlands in Indio, then we’re headed to hot springs in Desert Hot Springs. Lunch at Felipe’s is a must.
What’s missing in Palm Springs? A waterpark for the kids. I grew up with Knott’s Soak city a few miles away. I would love an amusement park geared toward children.
Where would you put your walk of fame star in the city? 3512 Eastgate Road. My grandmother owned the home until her passing in 2009. This home holds many memories for me and my family.
What’s your guilty pleasure: Rite Aid brand chocolate chip ice cream, anytime of the day and night.
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