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Inside the W.E.L.L. Summit: Meet Yogi Jessamyn Stanley – WELL Summit

Inside the W.E.L.L. Summit: Meet Yogi Jessamyn Stanley – WELL Summit

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Photo courtesy of Christine Hewitt

Jessamyn Stanley is an internationally recognized yoga instructor and a Modern Yoga authority. She works hard to illuminating the intersections of yoga, body politics, race, and gender identity in the 21st century, and her book Every Body Yoga, speaks to so many of those categories. We’re thrilled to have her at the W.E.L.L. Summit this year, and to introduce her to our tribe. Follow her on Instagram, her website, Twitter and Facebook, and read on for what she’s most looking forward to at the W.E.L.L. Summit this November. 

What would WS attendees be surprised to learn about you? I’m a very competitive board and trivia game player.

What first attracted you to W.E.L.L. Summit? Currently, the wellness world is very one dimensional—W.E.L.L. Summit’s commitment to 360 degree view of wellness is a very key step in the right direction.

What are you teaching at this year’s Summit? I’ll be discussing the importance of prioritizing self-care and regular yoga practice, and how self-care is a modern form of activism.

What does wellness mean to you? Wellness is a standard of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

What are you hoping to empower attendees with? I want attendees to walk away with the confidence and tools to begin and/or maintain a regular yoga practice, both on and off their yoga mat.

What breakout session are YOU signing up for? I really, really hope I’m able to attend “Ferment Me Not!” with Phoebe Lapine. Probiotic health has been revolutionary in my personal health journey, and I’m excited to learn more about it.

What exciting things are you working on this year? I’m working on my second book, the follow-up to Every Body Yoga, and a yoga lifestyle advice podcast.

Anyone who is at the top of their game has had to persevere and cheerleader themselves. What is one thing others told you was impossible but you proved was possible? I was repeatedly told that it was a waste of my time to meticulously shoot photos and post them on social media. In the years since, social media marketing has arguably become the most crucial of all marketing techniques.

What book(s) are you reading now? Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes and Stephen King’s The Stand.

What quote inspires you? “Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.” —Henry Miller

What do you do when you feel out of balance? I get on my yoga mat as quickly as possible. Even if I just end up crying in child’s pose, it’s always exactly where I need to be.

What’s your favorite ritual for health? Bath soaks, face masks, deep hair conditioning and lip masks—at least once a week for each. They help me remember that I am a queen, no matter how hard the winds of life are blowing.

Want more W.E.L.L. Summit? Follow along in our Inside the W.E.L.L. Summit series for more behind the scenes info about the upcoming event!

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Neal Halfon

Neal Halfon, MD, MPH is founding director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, and also directs the Child and Family Health Leadership and Training Program in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Halfon is professor of pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; health policy and management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; and public policy in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Is well known for his health related publications.