Rewriting the rules of self-care for women of colour
Welcome to The Villij — We're a wellness studio transforming the way women of colour nurture wellbeing through meaningful connections.
Our story
After one bathroom conversation at work in 2017, best-friends, Kim and Shanelle embarked on a journey to revolutionize how women of colour access care. Together, they built a notable inclusive wellness community and invented Just Checking In — a wellness experience and card game designed to spark intimate moments of connection, and help people build real, genuine relationships.
Today, The Villij includes a list of a team of experts, whose skills span from therapy to sound healing, all of whom are WOCs. In 2023, the company opened its first location in Toronto – the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples that is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Our values
We hold space for the true you
No code-switching required. We validate and support the identities and lived experiences of women of colour.
We live within community care
More than anything, we believe relationships impact our lives. By creating opportunities for wellness practitioners and communities to come together, we empower the need for collective healing.
We focus on access
We create for us and with us. Our work prioritizes affordability, plain language and accessible movement that aims to leave no woman of colour behind.
Press & mentions
The Villij is a recipient of the 2019 ByBlack’s Community Health Organization Award and 2020 BMO Celebrating Women Grant.
Our work is celebrated in VOGUE, Elle Canada, Refinery 29, eTalk, Vice, The Globe and Mail, and many more.
Work with our Villij
Learn more about our workplace wellness programs, workshops and brand services.