Serena Williams rose to become one of the greatest tennis players by trusting her intuition rather than merely her talent. She claims that she has benefited from those same senses off the court as well.
Williams is speaking up in the wake of serious health problems, such as a recent branchial cyst and a pulmonary embolism after giving birth to her first child.
Williams Urges Women to Prioritize Their Health
Williams, who works for Ritual as a Women’s Health Advisor, stated that she wants more women to prioritise their health. She said, “I want other women to know: you’re not alone. Your body is always talking to you. Listen to it. Trust it,” the People report said.
Williams is also encouraging women to talk to doctors, study labels, and ask questions. Since her near-death experience during an emergency C-section in 2017, she has been doing it. After giving birth to Olympia, Williams suffered from pulmonary embolism and blood clots.
Listening to the Body: A Lesson from Serena Williams
She discussed her struggles to get her medical staff to take her seriously in a 2018 Vogue article. She said, “after giving birth, I knew something was wrong, but I had to fight to be believed. Not everyone gets that chance,” according to a People report.
On the court, throughout pregnancy, and after her recovery, she had spent her entire life learning about her body. She had often been forced to fight to be heard, even when it was clear that something was wrong, Williams continued.
“Being part of Ritual isn’t about putting my name on something … it’s about helping women get the tools and trust they deserve,” she said.
Williams also wishes to refute the notion that women should simply accept their weariness or discomfort. “I’ve been there. Even with everything I know about my body, I’ve had moments where I didn’t feel right and couldn’t get answers. We deserve better.”
A Journey That Redefined Wellness
Williams is also thinking about how to teach her 7-year-old daughter, Olympia and her 1-year-old daughter, Adira, the same stuff.
She continued, “I want them to feel strong and confident in their bodies from a young age.”
Movement, rest, and how bodies feel — not how they look — were being talked about, she said. It was emphasised that health isn’t one size fits all and that they should feel empowered to listen to themselves.
Ritual’s founder and CEO, Katerina Schneider, stated in a statement, “The vision for Ritual has always been to set higher standards for women’s health … And when it comes to standards, whose are higher than Serena Williams’? She’s an inspiration, not just as the GOAT athlete, but as a powerful mother, an advocate and a voice for women everywhere.”
“I want to help normalise listening to your body,” Williams said. “Ask what something means, why it matters, and what it’s doing to your body,” she continued. “Whether it’s your doctor or a product label, don’t be afraid to ask. That’s how you stay in control.”
She stated that she treats the Ritual collaboration with great importance and that taking a daily multivitamin is “part of how I set my day.” “I remember trying Ritual years ago because I actually needed it. And now, I get to help shape the future of it.”
