We had the good fortune of connecting with Yvonne Rosegarden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yvonne, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
My very interesting career journey has consisted of creatively manifesting the ideas and concepts of others, starting with producing large scale entertainment, commercial and academic events for big audiences; working with production companies, corporations, and academic institutions. Over time and after many successful experiences, working with large groups, I discovered that I wanted to focus more closely on producing special events for individuals and small groups. I wanted to feel more connected to people and to my work, to truly enjoy all aspects of what I was doing. I combined my passion for wellness, well-being and joyful living with my love of producing events, and RedMelanin, featuring my “Soul Prescriptions Journeys” came to be. Soul Prescriptions are my extra-special wellness sessions—full-body meditations combining loving touch/massage therapies, affirmations, music therapy, ceremony and ritual. My clients embark on Soul Prescription Journeys to help stimulate creative thought, relax, feel free, Vibrate Higher… Each custom session designed on the needs of my client with the expectation of feeling fabulous as a result!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Redmelanin focuses on the art of helping people feel joyful, feel better, physically, emotionally and spiritually by providing a personalized, unique experience rooted in love. I get a kick out of telling my new clients, “I’m not afraid to love you!” Love is what my business is based on, and that love-factor is one of the reasons my clients come back again and again. I like to inspire people to “Vibrate Higher,” by really being good to oneself, to take pleasure in life, to live authentic lives. Taking a Soul Prescription Journey is a great launching pad to vibrating higher! What is important to me is that my client feels safe in my hands, that they are able to relax in the feeling of pure love energy and touch. I create a serene atmosphere of confidentiality where my clients can share intimate thoughts, be free from judgement; a place where new insights, and new business ideas are safely generated and shared, and most of all, I provide a safe space where people can feel appreciated for being the incredible human being they are. I treasure the trust element that is created. The best business lesson I have learned has been about the value of good relationships. Every business venture is collaborative…it takes at least two to tango. My path to success has taken many twists and turns. Many of my business ideas have been great, while some gambles didn’t pay off as well. But, no worries. My love of personal freedom keeps me from discouragement. I believe in myself. Always have, no matter the circumstances. That keeps the business flowing, the money flowing. Self-love, self-care is my greatest success!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmmmm…let’s see. During these Covid-19 times, I would take my bestie to lots of open air spaces. Because every visitor to Atlanta should check out the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and tour, we’d start there, and then explore the Auburn Avenue district, making sure to grab a bite at Mangos Caribbean Restaurant before stopping at the Your Vitamin Lady Herb shop to pick up a healthy tonic. In the Old Fourth Ward, we’d pick up some snacks at the Ponce City Market and have a picnic at the Historic Fourth Ward Park before exploring the art and sights and interesting people along the Beltline. Before we headed back to the east suburbs, we’d stop back by Ponce City Market for a show at the City Winery or drinks at the 12 Cocktail Bar on the roof to check out the sunset. Midtown Atlanta would be a definite stop! Piedmont Park is one of my favorite spaces in the city, We’d take a walk through the park and then visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden next door, perhaps take in Cocktails in the Garden, if we are visiting late afternoon, early evening! Poor Calvin’s restaurant for Asian Fusion, or Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Some of the best soul vegan restaurants can be found in the Historic West End, where the Atlanta University Center is located. Tassili’s Raw Reality Café serves the most delicious kale wraps—superb! Slutty Vegan. Soul Vegetarian are also good choices. A definite stop in the West End would be Gallery 992, for a night of straight-ahead jazz sessions. Arabia Mountain Park on the Eastside is peaceful and scenic with easy to moderate walking trails. A post coffee, early morning walk here would be on the agenda. Little Five Points is a cool neighborhood where my favorite vegan/vegetarian store, Sevananda is located. I like to pick up interesting organic wellness products there, and would love to share that experience with my bestie, as well as shopping at the eclectic metaphysical and specialty shops located in Little 5. If we’re feeling frisky and flexible, we’d roll on over to the Cascade Family Fun Skating Center in SW Atlanta. Then we’d stop by my friend farmer Ras Kofi at Shamba Cultivating Space in East Point to pick up some freshly picked, organic produce. A visit to the studio of artist Kenneth Zakee to purchase some of his beautiful art at the Artsxchange would make that day complete. East of the city, Stone Mountain Park provides for an excellent opportunity to walk the 1 mile trail up the mountain and take the Summit Skyride back down, taking in the scenic sights of the metro Atlanta area. Downtown Atlanta means a trip to Centennial Olympic Park for a nighttime trip on the Skyview Ferris Wheel or a visit to the revolving restaurant on top of the Westin Peachtree Hotel for appetizers and cocktails and you can see the vista for miles around on a clear evening. I’d track down my favorite food truck, King Kabob and introduce my bestie to Chef Chase’s delicious fare. North of the city, the Chattahoochee Nature Center is a lovely place to walk and commune with nature. 127 acres of forest and river habitat, a great place to learn about wildlife, the land and the river. It’s a beautiful meditative spot for me. There are many, many other places to go, but I think that would fill up our week pretty good.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Let me say I love that my family supports and believes me. That makes everything flow easier in my life! I truly appreciate Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia; Dr. Yvette Abrahams, director of Khoelife Organic Soap and Oils Primary Co-operative in Cape Town, South Africa for the encouragement of their examples. Also, shoutout to Yoruba priest Yeye Luisah Teish for her amazing book, Jambalaya which resonated with me so strongly so many years ago.

Website: redmelanin.com
Instagram: @yvonnerosegarden
Facebook: facebook.com/redmelanin
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJsgLw6rXJ6A0OPO-gp0mA

Image Credits
yvonnerosegarden nyrobi moss