Shelethya “She” Toles

I began my yoga journey in 2001 to explore it as a safe and accessible way to stay active while traveling extensively for work. At the time, I was also navigating a health challenge, which led me to seek holistic approaches to wellness. Initially, yoga was simply a form of exercise, but over time, it evolved into a guiding philosophy and a way of life.

From the start, my goal has been to share the benefits of yoga with as many people as possible—especially people of color, who are often underrepresented in yoga spaces yet stand to gain so much from its transformative practices. In 2005, I became a certified Hatha yoga instructor and have since taught in various settings, including studios, a local Reiki shrine, and even the beach.

In my classes, I use asanas, pranayama, and laughter, and I love to show students—like my 70+-year-old mother—that yoga is accessible to everybody and everybody. “Can’t” is a banned word in my class. My motto is simple: don’t focus on what you can’t do; do what you can—and just breathe.