Jessamyn Stanley

Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher, body positivity advocate, writer, and social media influencer. She's gained global recognition through her Instagram posts, exhibiting her yoga practices as a self-identified plus-size woman of color, fat femme, and queer femme, and has accumulated over 350,000 followers by 2018.

Stanley's first book, "Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear. Get On the Mat. Love Your Body," and her second book, "Yoke: My Yoga of Self Acceptance," have not only inspired audiences worldwide but also explore issues of self-love, body-positivity, race, sex, and sexuality. The book "Every Body Yoga" is a combination of a memoir and a yoga guide. Her contributions extend to articles such as "Find Your Voice" for Yoga Journal and addressing yoga queries in The New York Times.

Stanley's exceptional work resulted in her being featured on the cover of Yoga Journal in January 2019 and earning the Shorty Award for Best in Healthy Living in 2016. She was also named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business in 2017. Her influence has also paved the way for partnerships with commercial brands, such as Lane Bryant and Motrin.

As a dedicated yoga teacher, Stanley teaches classes online and in person internationally, including in her hometown of Durham, North Carolina. She also created The Underbelly, an app designed for yoga practitioners of all levels, and has appeared in live events promoting the app.

In addition to her yoga-focused work, Stanley is also an award-winning social advocate well-versed in various cultural issues. She co-founded We Go High NC, a southern Cannabis Justice organization seeking to increase cannabis access in prohibition states and highlight the connection between cannabis consumption and prison abolition.