I went on a 10 day silent retreat –

13 Apr

Vipassana retreatGallery / 12 images “Cigarettes and Alcohol” was not the spiritual anthem I’d envisioned for my journey to a silent meditation retreat. But there we were, a coachload of enlightenment-seeking strangers, rattling through the English countryside while being trolled by a bus driver and his ironic playlist. Cigarettes and alcohol? Definitely not for the next ten days. No phones or laptops either. In fact, not much of anything: no books, writing, eye contact, gesturing, eating past noon and – crucially – no talking. Just ten, long days of introspection. Vipassana, which means ‘to see things as they really are’ is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. The practice involves repeatedly scanning the body from head to toe until you feel...

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13 Apr

Supermodel Anok Yai: ‘I’ve really learned to listen to

by Beauty Tips

Beauty, Featured

Supermodel Anok Yai: ‘I’ve really learned to listen to

Last year was a whirlwind for Sudanese-American model and former Dazed cover star Anok Yai. Crowned 2025’s Model of the Year, she opened Ferragamo, Coperni and Hugo Boss, closed Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Vetements and Messika, and walked countless other shows during the SS26 season. Amid the rush of the fashion world, Yai was also navigating a very different journey, as she underwent a series of lung surgeries, which she announced in a post shared to Instagram. “After my recent healthcare journey, I’ve really learned to listen to my body. Your body is always communicating with you and sending you signs, and I’ve stopped ignoring them,” she tells Dazed. “I now treat my body as a separate entity to myself – I...

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29 Jul

These Are The Lessons We’ve Learned From Our Dads

by Beauty Tips

Makeup, Featured

These Are The Lessons We’ve Learned From Our Dads

Composite by ESSENCE Staff Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Father’s Day can stir up a reminder of all the lessons we’ve learned from our dads. While we might teach them skincare routines, they raise us with lessons about beauty, confidence, and how to achieve our heart’s desires whether we realize it or not. After all, growing up, what we learned from our father figures– from fathers to step fathers, grandfathers and uncles– guides us throughout adulthood. Today, in honor of Father’s Day, we look back and acknowledge all the lessons we don’t want to unlearn. Below, 8 ESSENCE editors share the important self-confidence guidance they’ve received from their fathers. Akili King, Senior Beauty Editor “Growing up, I remember my dad would brush my hair before...

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21 Jul