I’m Anna Guest-Jelley, founder of Curvy Yoga — a training & inspiration portal for curvy yogis and their allies & teachers.

As a writer, educator & lifelong champion for women’s empowerment & body acceptance, I’m here to encourage women of every size, age & ability to grab life by the curves. And never let go.

Twists, Turns & My Curvaceous Career

I didn’t create Curvy Yoga on a whim — though believe me, I’m quite a whimsical woman! I’ve been practicing yoga for more than thirteen years (wa-aay before it was trendy), teaching for over four, and training yoga teachers since early 2012. And in case you’re curious, yes; I’m E-RYT200 and RYT500.

In a previous life, I earned multiple Master’s degrees (and one slice of a PhD) . . . dusted chalkboards & cross-examined essays as an English professor . . . ran a renowned domestic violence prevention program . . . co-managed a university women’s center . . . published papers, created workshops & coordinated community programs on universal health care, reproductive rights, adult literacy, wellness & emotional resilience. Eating disorders, abuse, self-neglect & anxiety — you name it, I wrote the curriculum…xeroxed the worksheets . . and hung the ‘Welcome’ sign on the door.

My life has always been filled with beautiful women, big ideas — and bliss-sucking challenges.

I’ve personally struggled (to put it mildly) with the sickening pain of low self-esteem, warped body image & dizzying migraines. I’ve been on 65 diets. I’ve starved, binged, broken down & wept. I’ve been told I was too fat to do yoga (EXCUSE me?!). I’ve experienced death, loss & unspeakable grief. I’ve hunted for community, and found echoes & misunderstanding.

I’m also hysterical, foxy, highly intuitive & prone to outbursts of unabashed optimism.

Yoga is the technology & foundation of my well-lived life — and well-loved body. It’s changed my world, rocked my core — and become my life’s work.

How Curvy Yoga Was Born

As I moved through my own Yoga adventure, I realized that there was a big, gaping hole in the Yogaverse — a space where curvy women could get information on how to start a yoga practice. Safely. Serenely. At home.

And then I discovered another big, gaping hole — a space where yoga teachers could learn how to guide & instruct their curvy students. Without worrying that they were doing — or saying — something w-r-o-n-g.

I looked for support, and found misinformation, mystification — and a maddening lack of options. (Boo.)

So I created a big, curvy website — and a big, curvy business — to offer tools, techniques & resources for yogis & teachers alike. Curvy Yoga was born. (Yes, you may cheer.)

Off the mat. Into the future.

Curvy Yoga is celebrating its third year of classes, courses & collaborations. Needless to say — this lovefest is just getting started.

Stay on the radar for live events, (even more) certification courses, a brand-new book (!) and local classes all over the nation.

It just keeps getting Curvier up in here. And I’m honored you’re part of my story.

Don’t miss a single curve.