13 Black Female Trainers to Follow on Instagram Right Now

Kylie Gilbert
·19 min read

Portrayals of wellness often center around women who are white and thin, but the space is as diverse as the world we live in — and it's time our Instagram feeds represent that reality.

Whether you're into yoga, running, or strength training, the trainers on this list are a valuable source of workout advice and inspiration. They're also sharing what it's like to be a Black woman in the fitness industry, and in this country, right now.

While far from a comprehensive list, these are a few of the Black female trainers to start following (if you don't already) and supporting by signing up for their programs and classes.

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Jessamyn Stanley

Yoga teacher and body-positive advocate Jessamyn Stanley's advice will resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place in a yoga class. In addition to her tips for practicing yoga at any size, you can expect stories and posts filled with Stanley's hilarious and honest take on a range of topics, from cannabis to being in a polyamorous relationship. Buy her book, Every Body Yoga, and listen to her podcast, Dear Jessamyn.

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A word on this transition- stepping forward from downward facing dog to a lunge pose is hard as fuck. It took years for this transition to feel normal in my body. If you are currently falling flat on your face instead of stepping smoothly into downdog, know that I am right there with you because this shit is hard and you are allowed to fall down. Falling down doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it makes you a fearless bad bitch. I go into way more detail about this in the air track classes on @theunderbellyyoga so I’m not gonna beat a dead horse here- if you wanna begin or continue your yoga journey, try our free trial and get your life. But right now I’m way less concerned with “teaching yoga” and more just desperate to express how much I identify with anyone who finds it hard to practice this transition. This is hands down one of the most common questions y’all ask. Falling on your face in yoga is just like falling on your face in life. And honestly life is just a series of banana slips on repeat and all that ever happens is we get better at finding a smile when our ass hits the ground. Also shout out to my @theunderbellyyoga team for curating these clips and celebrating the fuck out of the air track this week. Mad love to all of you who are out there slaying your journey and learning how to breathe and be with yourself. I honor you, I love you, I am grateful for you. #ubyoga #everybodyyoga All of @theunderbellyyoga classes are shot & cut by my loves at @bigdoglittlebedproductions

A post shared by Jessamyn (@mynameisjessamyn) on May 22, 2020 at 1:24pm PDT

Traci Copeland

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I never regret a Run. 4.5 miles 🏃🏽‍♀️today, 3.5 more to go to hit my 20 mile goal for the week. It’s a beautiful weekend in the Northeast, great time to log some miles safely. @nikerunning #milesforahmaud #run #train #besafe #weekend

A post shared by Traci Copeland (@traco4) on May 16, 2020 at 12:29pm PDT

A former professional dancer and gymnast turned yogi and runner, Copeland offers a bit of everything on her IG, whether you want to finally learn how to do a handstand or run your first half-marathon. The Nike Master Trainer's workouts are available on the Nike Training Club app, but you can also check out her live-streamed dance cardio workout on YouTube and Instagram highlights for more at-home workouts.

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Brittany Watts

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Full bodyweight workout! 6 exercises 6 times: 1. Donkey kicks - 20x each side 2. Burpees - 15x 3. Side lunges - 20x each side 4. Windmills- 15x each side 5. Knee drives - 25x each side 6. Reverse plank marches - 15x each side Repeat 6x Try it out, record it and tag me in your posts 🤗❤️ @performix_house @performix @alala #core #coreworkout #abs #fuelyourpurpose #quarantine #homeworkout #bodyweighttraining #bodyweightworkout #personaltrainer #onlinetraining #onlinecoach #onlinecoaching #facetime #wattselite

A post shared by Brittany Watts (@wattselite) on Apr 3, 2020 at 5:36am PDT

Performix House trainer and Precision Nutrition coach Brittany Watts is always posting her impressive workouts on Instagram (like this one, where she thrusts 555 pounds... mind blown) — plus beginner-level workouts you can do at home using your own bodyweight. Watts also offers one-on-one FaceTime training, Zoom group classes, and nutrition coaching via her website.

Lauren Ash

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christ consciousness 🦋 is — ⁣ unconditional love and support. ⁣ forgiveness as a committed practice. ⁣ the embodiment of the fruits of the spirit including love, joy, and peace. ⁣ rejoicing in the Truth. ⁣ leaning into the spiritual, more than the material. ⁣ a consciousness in alignment with miracles. and the manifestation of miracles as natural as breathing. ⁣ and the ability to rise and ascend, even after death. ⁣ ⁣ tomorrow, join me for yoga & chill live on instagram. i’ll be guiding a yoga and meditation flow that embodies, for me, the spirit of my favorite things about the embodiment of one of my favorite Divine teachers. thank you so much to my boo @beanieboamah for the invitation! ✨ i’ll also be sharing an extra special announcement during our chat on the other side of our practice so tune in for the full experience 💋 ⁣ ⁣ see you at @hanahana_beauty tomorrow at 11am EST. p.s. support this black woman owned business by getting yourself, or a friend who is in need of some uplift, a jar of my favorite shea butter! ⁣I lather my entire body with it after every bath and shower. ⁣ p.p.s. any requests for yoga? drop them below 🤲🏾 ⁣ ⁣ photo by @lindseykusterman ⁣ #blackgirlinom #yoga #wellness #meditation #easter #stillwerise

A post shared by my grandmothers’ dream 🕊 (@hellolaurenash) on Apr 11, 2020 at 4:41pm PDT

If you're in need of some uplifting content at the moment, turn to Lauren Ash, a yoga and meditation teacher and the founder of Black Girl In Om, a wellness website for women of color. Tune into her Black Girl In Om podcast where she focuses on topics like self­-care and self-­love for women of color, and check out her guided meditation videos here.

Selena Watkins

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The latest Socanomics Dance Workout is now up on @socanomics igTV! Be a part of the growing #socanomicsTribe. We're over there having a lot of fun and getting amazing workouts in!! Follow @socanomics and sweat with us! 30-minutes of dance cardio followed by 30-minutes of choreography. (The 2nd slide shows today's choreo. 3rd slide was our aerobic combo)

A post shared by Selena Watkins 🇦🇬🇦🇬 (@selenawatkins) on May 16, 2020 at 5:01pm PDT

If you prefer dance workouts over dumbells, Selena Watkins is a must-follow. The fitness coach and dancer toured with Nicki Minaj and performed in J.Lo and Shakira's Super Bowl half-time show, and has her own Caribbean-inspired workout program, Socanomics, combining dance cardio with choreography.

Ally Love

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✨FEEL GOOD ✨ Today I clip-in to Feel Good. I need it & I’m ready for it. I do want to note that Feeling Good goes in tandem with still putting in the WORK to do better, to be better....I want you to join me! Grab a friend and meet me in this ride! ✨ #loveSquad #onepeloton

A post shared by A l l y L o v e (@allymisslove) on Jun 7, 2020 at 5:44am PDT

Ally Love has many titles, including model, adidas ambassador, host for the Brooklyn Nets, and founder of Love Squad. If you're a fan of cycling, you'll want to check out her classes on the Peloton app — her dance background also makes her one of the platform's most beloved instructors.

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Monica Jones

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“I wanted to be a champion who was accessible to everyone” Ali • • • Boxing has displayed racial background from the moment a fighter walks in until the moment they leave. Although it’s a fitness phenomenon, it has always been a place of triumph over racism and oppression. The ring is where minorities would earn a better way to live and raise awareness and hope in & outside their community. These fighters have no choice but to win. They represent grit, resilience, persistence, and CONSISTENCY. It is imperative to move consistently and not just intensely. We don’t win thru one battle, we win thru dedicated training. Remain persistent and don’t let up when the hashtag begins to fade or the timeline lightens. If you love boxing fitness, then honor minorities who’ve built this sport. • • • The fight for a greater cause starts within. Moving our body sharpens our minds and eases our spirits. So I encourage you to train consistently this week- Do not lose that training under stress. If it means waking up earlier to run or walk, do it. We are no good to anyone else if we aren’t caring for our bodies. Take the health we’re fortunate to have and fight for the health of others. Fight for Black Lives. We are tired and hurt. We need your respect, your empathy and your voice. I will fight to bring health literacy and resources to the black community, starting this Saturday at 12PM with @bash and I will fight every day to be a champion for all people. What is your pledge? Will you fight beside me?

A post shared by Monica Jones Performance Coach (@trainwithmon) on Jun 3, 2020 at 11:40am PDT

Even if you have no idea how to hook or jab, boxing coach and Under Armour trainer Monica Jones is worth the follow for her workout motivation alone. Take her at-home boxing-inspired workout on YouTube and tune in for her free, donation-based live Zoom workout through Bash boxing, to help support Black Lives Matter.

Chrissy King

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I started writing about the lack of diversity and inclusion in fitness and wellness spaces because of my own personal experiences. I was frequently in spaces where there was little to no representation of BIPOC or other marginalized groups. ⠀ It's no secret that the fitness and wellness industry has a history of centering and catering to a predominantly white audience, disregarding issues of diversity and inclusion, representation, and intersectionality. ⠀ Since then, I have continued to talk about this topic, writing for a myriad of online platforms about the intersection of race and fitness and the need to approach fitness through an intersectional lens. ⠀ Fitness and wellness go far beyond exercise and nutrition. ⠀ Mental, emotional, and spiritual health are equally important. All of these aspects of wellness have a direct impact on physical health. We can’t adequately take a holistic approach to wellness without addressing the intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation, and body size (among others) and how these things have the capacity to prevent some people from feeling safe in their bodies and welcomed in wellness space. ⠀ For many people, this may be an entirely new consideration. While it may feel easier to keep these considerations out of our practice, creating inclusive fitness spaces requires that we discuss racism as well as a myriad of other -isms that inevitably negatively affect our clients. ⠀ I'm continually getting messages and emails from people asking me how they can learn more and work to create a more diverse and inclusive fitness space. I created this 101 webinar last year to provide people with the basics and also discuss special considerations for creating safe, diverse, and inclusive wellness spaces. ⠀ Last year, I presented this information for @csulongbeach. I’m working with them again to do a virtual course for their health sciences students and as such, I’m opening it again to the general public for anyone interested in these topics. ⠀ This is far from a comprehensive course, but you will walk away with a wealth of knowledge and actions steps. ⠀ It’s happening Friday, April 10th. Head to the link in my bio to sign up!

A post shared by Chrissy King | Fitness Coach (@iamchrissyking) on Mar 3, 2020 at 2:56pm PST

If you're looking to follow a body-positive trainer with a focus on strength training, meet Chrissy King. The fitness coach believes in the transformative power of lifting weights and is giving back through Women's Strength Coalition, a nonprofit that increases access to fitness and movement, through advocacy, education, and scholarships. King has hosted webinars about tackling the lack of diversity and inclusion in the fitness spaces and has a new course about anti-racism practices that you can sign up for now.

Jeanette Jenkins

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❤️Exercise is healing for your mind, body & spirit! Our 30Day Summer Body Bootcamp ☀️starts TODAY! www.TheHollywoodTrainerClub.com Join us! Everyone is welcome to join us worldwide 🌎 just click the link in my bio @msjeanettejenkins for all the details & to sign up! We would love to have you join us! Tag a friend & get your body moving!⁣ ⁣ ❤️Day1 is our TOTAL BODY BOOTCAMP which is a 63min workout or our 500Calorie Burner from our #SisterSeries which is a 37min workout! All the workouts in our club are INSTRUCTIONAL streaming and have modifications & instructions for all levels. ⁣ ⁣ ❤️The goal of this bootcamp is to encourage you to be committed and consistent with your workouts and healthy eating so you can feel great, look great and function at your best. ⁣ ⁣ ❤️Regular exercise is like your daily internal hygiene. It helps regulate your hormones, it gives you a boost of endorphins so you feel great, it helps bring fresh oxygen to all of your cells in your body to help rejuvenate your internal organs, your skin, your blood stream and your brain. Exercise increases the growth of new brain cells, it decreases your risk of illnesses from heart disease & covid19 to cancer by strengthening your immune system and much more. Exercise helps improve your mental & physical strength and self confidence and much more!⁣ ⁣ ❤️All the streaming workouts for this”30Day Summer Body Body” our “Ab Blast” Challenge our “14Day Love Your Body Home Workouts” our “Summer Body Bootcamp” our “Total Body Bootcamp” our “Butt Challenge” our “Sister Series” and more are in the “Virtual Gym” under the “Exercise” tab! 😊It’s only $19.99/month to access all of these challenges and over 500+ streaming workouts and challenges, over 150+ healthy recipes & meal plans and our Community Wall for Support! ⁣ ⁣ ❤️Log in and write a message on the Community Wall so we know you’re coming with us! Just join or login www.TheHollywoodTrainerClub.com @hollywoodtrainerclub click on Exercise, then Virtual Gym for all the workouts and get started! You can do it! ⁣ ⁣ ❤️If you’re not a member of the club it’s ok just tag a friend and try the exercises in the sliders above 30-60sec or 15-25reps, 2-3sets!

A post shared by Jeanette Jenkins (@msjeanettejenkins) on Jun 8, 2020 at 7:44am PDT

Founder of the fitness program Hollywood Trainer Club, Jeanette Jenkins has worked with celebs like Alicia Keys and Serena Williams. Luckily, the trainer and health coach also regularly shares her easy bodyweight circuits workouts on her Instagram account so we can all reap the benefits.

Elisabeth Akinwale

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Training outside while Black. Within an hour of posting today that I needed to go outside to workout and decompress from surviving during a pandemic, trying to save a business, and contending with America’s brutal racist violence & inequality, Kevin (@brattrains) and I experienced a Stop and frisk light from Chicago PD. My somewhat disorganized thoughts: Why am I required to talk to you? Armed protestors think wearing a mask is impinging on their freedoms. How about having to interact with law enforcement on a frequent basis, when you’re doing absolutely nothing wrong. ___________________________________________ One instinct was to grab my mask due to the global pandemic, but I know getting anything from my bag is not safe. So there we stand, unprotected. ___________________________________________ The way we speak will influence if we go home without incident, even though again, we’ve done nothing to invite or warrant this contact. _____________________________________________ As the police cars are pulling towards us, I step forward because my light skin and gender make me feel less at risk and less perceived as a threat than a 6’3” dark skinned Black man. Being fit seems even more dangerous because if they do feel threatened (by your color, your existence, your physicality) as a collective they’ve demonstrated a lack of skill to respond to their own fear, beyond using deadly force. How demented that Black health and strength could result in more danger. _________________________________________ They questioned and inspected us, commenting, “there’s not usually anyone over here.” Yes. We intentionally found a deserted spot to exercise because we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, and we’re trying to stay away from others. But now you’re here. ___________________________________________ We were not asked to leave the space or told we were somewhere we shouldn’t be. So why force this encounter?

A post shared by Elisabeth Akinwale (@eakinwale) on May 29, 2020 at 4:05pm PDT

Elisabeth Akinwale is an accomplished weightlifter, Under Armour athlete, and co-owner of @13thflow, a strength and conditioning gym in Chicago. As a five-time CrossFit Games Athlete, she also brings much-needed visibility to the Black athletes competing in a sport that has historically lacked diversity.

Lita Lewis

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She wants to move! It’s time for some sweat therapy. Try these 6 movements for a total body workout in minutes. NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED 30 seconds each move, or 30 seconds each side 6 movements, perform consecutively 3-4 rounds Rest 30 seconds between rounds Thank you to everyone who has shared information, voiced support, posted, donated, and protested for justice and the fight for equality. I’ve been so angry these passed few days and now must focus on the silver lining and get my body moving again! You know who you are, I love you. Please continue the movement, continue to educate yourself, stay informed, post, share and have necessary conversations with your peers, neighbors, children, it is needed and necessary! Music: She Wants To Move, by NERD To those registered for today’s LIVE class, I’ll see you at 10:00AM Pacific! Link in BIO _____________________________________________

A post shared by L I T A L E W I S (@followthelita) on Jun 5, 2020 at 8:26am PDT

In addition to sharing at-home bodyweight workouts, fitness and life coach Lita Lewis also provides plenty of wisdom about sustaining your dreams, trying new things, and prioritizing self-care. Sign up for her online training programs and e-books and subscribe to her YouTube channel.

Roz 'The Diva' Mays

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FOR THE PEOPLE MARCHING >> after you've put your foot into the asshole of white supremacy, do these ankle mobility drills. #teamDIVAis

A post shared by Roz The Diva (@rozthediva) on Jun 5, 2020 at 3:20pm PDT

As evidenced by the video above, Roz is vocal about the intersections between fitness and race, wealth, weight, and more. In addition to personal training (her clients include "plus-size athletes, clueless gym virgins, and other misfits"), the certified trainer also teaches live pole dancing classes online through Body and Pole, and hosts 'organized rants' and 'formal tirades' that you can sign up for via Patreon.

Chelsea Jackson Roberts

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I am calling in my ancestors to guide me in this thank you to everyone who reached into their reservoir to support me in this new chapter in life. The gravity and seriousness of the moment is not and was not lost in celebrating becoming the first Black Peloton yoga instructor. (Yes, this is significant. Just Google "yoga teacher" images and tell me what you find.) Watching a public lynching of #GeorgeFloyd at the hands of four police officers the day before I had to introduce myself to world was personally difficult but nothing is more difficult than witnessing and feeling the collective grief and anger of burying another Black person to violence. James Baldwin once said essence of love was using one person’s suffering and another’s person’s suffering to move from place to another, and to essentially move deeper in into love. Action. Change. Movement. Love. It is a time to act. To use one’s unique skills to energize America — black, white, indigenous, and immigrant — to fundamentally shift the inequity that is baked into our laws, policies, enforcement, and institutions. Change is always about the demand and this work is messy, violent, consistent, and enduring. And most importantly, it is not about me personally, it is about collective uplift. I can’t run away behind the bright lights and not engage my folks in streets. The work is BOTH-AND not either-or. George Floyd was not murdered because of the color of his skin. It’s beyond Crayola. George, Breonna, and my husband Shane’s cousin Philando Castile are victims of a sustained 400-year oppression of humans who, like Michelle Obama who recently said in her memoir “Becoming,” are descendants of enslaved Americans and American apartheid aka Jim Crow. America has never made right by us but still keep showing up as fully and beautifully and dignifiedly as we can under immense pressure. I am committed to continuing our work with Red Clay Yoga and my work in Diversity and Inclusion, and I will use my platform and resources to honor the struggle and bring our myth of one America to fruition. Thank you to my new Peloton family for working with me through onboarding despite the circumstances w/ so much love.

A post shared by Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts (@chelsealovesyoga) on May 29, 2020 at 11:03am PDT

You may know Chelsea Jackson Roberts as a yoga and meditation instructor for Peloton or a Lululemon ambassador, but she also uses her passion for education (she's a former school teacher and has her Ph.D. in Educational Studies) to create Yoga, Literature & Art Camp. The tuition-free camp offers a place for teenage girls to read, write poetry, practice yoga, and build a community. (You can donate or provide support here.)