Human Movement and Life Coach Redina Medley Brings Her “Invest in Women” Series to SIUE’s Learning Resource Center

Human Movement and Life Coach Redina Medley Brings Her "Invest in Women" Series to SIUE's Learning Resource Center

May 2, 2024, 9:35 AM

Joan Eikerenkoetter, of St. Louis, was bedridden with chronic pain, was taking more than 20 prescription pills daily, was struggling with her mental health, and once weighed more than 300 pounds. That was four years ago before she met Redina Medley, of East St. Louis.

Medley, human movement instructor, life coach, self-ascribed "life practitioner" and longtime educator, facilitated four of her eight-part series, 2024 Invest in Women, on Friday, April 26 at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center. Her remaining four sessions will be held in the months of May through September at East St. Louis locations to be later announced.

"When we invest in women, we save humanity," said Medley, veteran dancer, actress and founder of Redimed Performances, Plus - her one-woman theater company. Her main question to open the session is, "Who wants to reinvent themselves, build healthier lives and explore deeper body, mind and soul work?"

Medley expertly and effortlessly captivated the workshop participants, and for the next two hours took them on a journey that offered included intellectual, physical, mental and nutritional education.

"A lot of things that we have experienced on earth have been to our own detriment," Medley told the women. "And if things are to our harm, that means we must let them go and start another journey - a healthier journey."

Medley went on to challenge the women to ask themselves: "How do I show up?"

"When you look in the mirror and see your reflection, do you say, 'Oh my, look at those wrinkles'?" asked Medley. "No! Tell her how much you love her. Wake up the essence in yourself. Say, 'I may be one year older, but I'm here on Earth and it is my gift.'"

Medley encouraged the women to begin a healing journey, metaphorically looking at it like starting out as a caterpillar that will eventually turn into a beautiful butterfly.

"As humans, we can look at the butterfly and see what we are supposed to be doing," shared Medley. "I am in a stage of metamorphosis and transformation. I am sharing this information with other women so they, too, can experience evolution and ascension."

Further, Medley encouraged the women to be "selfish." "We've been giving ourselves to everybody else," she said. "Learn to nurture and fix yourself. Allow yourself to shed tears if need be. Tears are a healing modality and is detoxification."

Quiet time is also healing, said Redina, who then led the women on 30 minutes of guided meditation.

"Feel yourself begin to relax," said Medley. "See if you can sense a level of relaxation. Feel the tension ease away - it's called stress. This is an experience, a process, a way of healing."

"I came today to learn more from her. I'm in her Human Movement class," said Bobbie Millender, of Belleville. "I feel so much better because I'm learning to live in the moment. I drink eight or more glasses of water a day. I detox by eating fruits and vegetables for a week once a month. I exercise and read a lot of books. I'm learning how to be part of all humanity."

"Knowledge is power," said Jamila Ajanaku, retired SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts instructor. "I came because I want to continue to better myself and share the information I receive. I want to live until I'm 90 years old. I've changed my diet and am working on getting rid of the sugar and carbs."

"I've been on a mission to help others, but you can't help others until you heal yourself," said Niesha "Queen Omega" Mathis, a yoga instructor who has been in association with Medley for 13 years.

"This class is my life. I feel like I came alive when I met her, because I was almost dead," said Eikerenkoetter. "I had also been in and out of mental facilities since I was a child. But I am doing well today. My mental health is fine. I'm not even depressed. I take no prescription pills, only natural herbs. I do meditation and human movement."

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a full-service library available to the East St. Louis and surrounding communities, as well as the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, SIUE East St. Louis Center staff and programs and other programs and employees on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. It offers internet access with 10 public computers, a computer lab with 20 computers and a SMART Board available to on-campus classes and community groups. Career services, free library cards, free printing, copying, scanning, faxing, and Notary Public services are designed to provide inclusive access and assistance in one convenient location. LRC is sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Photos:
Participants attend an Invest in Women series presented by Redina Medley, of East St. Louis. Top row left to right: Niesha "Queen Omega" Mathis, Jamila Ajanaku, Joan Eikerenkoetter and Bobbie Millender. Middle row: Medley talks about peace, healing and wholeness for women.