Jessamyn Stanley

Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher, author, body positivity advocate, and entrepreneur whose work has challenged traditional perceptions of yoga accessibility. Stanley returned to yoga in her twenties as a way of managing depression and found the practice both enjoyable and personally challenging. She began sharing yoga photos on Instagram to receive feedback on her technique and gained a following by promoting an inclusive, body-affirming approach, demonstrating that yoga is not limited to a specific body type. Her online presence has grown into a global movement, reaching hundreds of thousands of people and highlighting her experiences and perspectives in the wellness industry.

Stanley is the author of the books "Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body" and "Yoke: My Yoga of Self Acceptance." "Every Body Yoga" serves as both a memoir and a yoga guide, addressing her personal journey with yoga, food, weight, and family, as well as offering guidance on yoga poses, history, and advice for practitioners. The book addresses emotional barriers that can prevent individuals from engaging in yoga. "Yoke" explores the concept of the yoga of everyday life through autobiographical essays on topics such as self-love, impostor syndrome, cannabis, and the spiritual aspects of Western yoga. Both books have received recognition from major publications including Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Marie Claire, People, InStyle, and BookPage.

Stanley is recognized in the wellness community for her insights on contemporary yoga and intersectional identity. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of how practitioners feel rather than how they look, challenging societal assumptions about body size and strength. She delivers lectures on body politics at national conferences, market research discussions, and university events. Stanley's appearance on one of two covers of Yoga Journal, alongside a slim white woman on the other, sparked significant discussion about representation in wellness spaces.

Stanley is the founder of The Underbelly, an inclusive wellness community and streaming app, cohost of the podcast "Dear Jessamyn," and cofounder of We Go High, a North Carolina-based cannabis justice initiative. She contributes regularly to SELF magazine and is featured in outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, Vogue, InStyle, BET, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated, Business Insider, and Vice. Stanley has received the Shorty Award in the Healthy Living category for her Instagram content and the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award for her work in broadening access to yoga through social media and her writing. Her influence has led to partnerships with commercial brands, further expanding her impact in the wellness and yoga communities. Through her writing, teaching, and advocacy, Stanley continues to shape conversations around inclusivity and representation in wellness.