Jessamyn Stanley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jessamyn Stanley
Stanley receiving 2017 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation award
Born	June 27, 1987
Nationality	American
Education	UNC Greensboro The Art Institute of Raleigh - Durham UNC Chapel Hill
Occupation	yoga teacher
Known for	Shorty Award for Best in Healthy Living (2016)
Notable work	Every Body Yoga (2017)

Jessamyn Stanley is an American yoga teacher, writer, and body positivity advocate. She became well-known through her Instagram posts. These posts showed her doing yoga as a plus-size woman of color. She believes that yoga is for every body type. Jessamyn has written two books: Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body and Yoke: My Yoga of Self Acceptance.

Early Life and School

Jessamyn Stanley has always lived in North Carolina. When she was in middle school, she tried gymnastics and cheerleading. Later, in high school, she played flag football. She also shared her identity as a queer person when she was 16.

Jessamyn went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in Media Studies. She focused on video and film production. She also studied culinary arts at The Art Institute of Raleigh - Durham. Later, she earned a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This degree was in performing arts management.

Yoga Journey

Jessamyn first tried yoga when she was a teenager. She did not enjoy it much back then. In her twenties, she returned to yoga. She found it helped her deal with difficult feelings and stress. She realized she really enjoyed the practice. It also challenged her in helpful ways.

In 2012, she started sharing her yoga photos on Instagram. She wanted to get feedback on her yoga moves. She quickly gained many followers. People loved her "inclusive, body-affirming" message. She showed that yoga is not just for one body type. Jessamyn later trained to become a yoga teacher.

Her way of teaching yoga focuses on how you feel during practice. It is not about how you look. She challenges the idea that people with larger bodies are "slow and weak." Jessamyn teaches that "strength comes in different shapes and sizes." She teaches yoga classes online. She also teaches in-person classes around the world. She teaches in her home city of Durham, North Carolina.

Impact and Recognition

Yelena Alpert, writing for Yoga Journal, said that Jessamyn's work is "changing the perception of what a yogi looks like." In 2017, Jessamyn spoke with New York Times writer Jenna Wortham. She talked about how the internet helps connect people. She said, "There was a niche community of people waiting for a yoga book written by a queer, fat, black person. It was just about finding the means to reach them."

By 2016, she had over 200,000 Instagram followers. This number grew to 350,000 by 2018. In January 2019, Jessamyn appeared on one of two covers of Yoga Journal. The other cover showed a slim white woman. This caused a strong reaction from some people. The journal's brand director later apologized and explained their choice.

Jessamyn's large social media following has led to partnerships. She has worked with brands like Lane Bryant and Motrin. In 2017, she became a national ambassador for U by Kotex Fitness.

Books and Apps

Jessamyn's book, Every Body Yoga, came out in April 2017. It is part memoir and part yoga guide. In the book, she shares her personal story with yoga, food, and her family. She also teaches yoga poses and shares yoga history. The book gives advice for practicing yoga alone or in classes. She helps readers overcome emotional challenges. These challenges might make someone feel they cannot do yoga.

A review in Booklist called the book "playful" and "approachable." Library Journal described it as "uplifting." Publishers Weekly called it a "touching work" and "a must for those new to yoga." A review in Fat Studies found it "readable and relatable." It also noted that Jessamyn talks about the importance of breathing exercises and meditation in yoga.

Jessamyn also created an app called The Underbelly. This app offers yoga practices for people of all skill levels.

Awards

• Shorty Award for Best in Healthy Living, 2016
• Fast Company Most Creative People in Business, 2017