Austin Nurse Launches Wellness Retreat to Help Black Women Rest, Heal, and Recharge
An Austin nurse is taking her passion for caring for others beyond the hospital walls by creating a wellness retreat designed to give Black women a safe space to rest, reconnect, and prioritize their own wellbeing.
Sahavit Mosley-Chance, an Army veteran, registered nurse, doula, and resilience trainer, recently launched Hava, a retreat and event company focused on helping Black women step away from the pressures of everyday life and invest in their physical, emotional, and mental health.
From Military Service to Nursing
Mosley-Chance’s journey into wellness has been shaped by decades of service.
She spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, where she trained military personnel in resilience and stress management before later building a career in nursing and becoming a certified doula.
Throughout both careers, she noticed a common pattern—many women, especially Black women, were constantly caring for everyone else while neglecting their own wellbeing.
“I spent 21 years in the Army as a leader and a career in nursing, taking care of people,” she said.
“When I watched a room full of Black women exhale at our first gathering on Juneteenth weekend—women who came as strangers and left in community—I knew this was the work.”
Creating Space for Rest
The company’s first retreat was held during Juneteenth weekend in Texas and focused on something many healthcare workers rarely experience: intentional rest.
Rather than offering a traditional vacation, Hava creates immersive experiences centered around healing, reflection, connection, and self-care.
According to Mosley-Chance, the retreats are intentionally designed to honor Black culture and history while creating an environment where women feel seen, supported, and understood.
Activities include:
- Guided wellness sessions
- Community discussions
- Reflection exercises
- Rest and relaxation
- Cultural connection
- Opportunities to build lasting friendships
Why Nurses Understand Burnout
As a registered nurse, Mosley-Chance understands firsthand the emotional toll healthcare can take.
Nurses routinely work long shifts, manage emotionally difficult situations, and care for patients experiencing illness, trauma, and grief.
Many also struggle to prioritize their own physical and mental health.
Her experience inspired her to build something that reminds women—especially caregivers—that rest is not selfish.
It is essential.
More Than a Retreat
Mosley-Chance says Hava is about creating community.
Many participants arrive not knowing anyone else attending.
By the end of the weekend, many leave with lasting friendships and support networks.
She hopes every retreat becomes a place where women feel safe enough to slow down, share their experiences, and return home emotionally refreshed.
Next Retreat Planned for October
Following the success of its inaugural Juneteenth event, Hava has announced its next retreat, scheduled for October 16–18 in Wimberley, Texas.
The retreat will continue the organization’s mission of providing intentional spaces where Black women can disconnect from daily pressures and reconnect with themselves.
A Different Kind of Nursing
Although nurses are often recognised for saving lives during emergencies, stories like Mosley-Chance’s demonstrate another important side of the profession.
Nursing is not only about treating illness.
It is also about promoting wellness, preventing burnout, supporting emotional health, and helping communities thrive.
By combining her military leadership, nursing experience, and passion for holistic wellbeing, Mosley-Chance is expanding what nursing leadership can look like beyond the bedside.
Her work serves as a reminder that sometimes the greatest form of healing begins with simply giving people permission to pause.
