Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Wonzo
Hi Jade, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started practicing yoga around 10 years ago. I am from a really small town, and yoga was really something I only saw wealthier women do on TV. My friend from work invited me to class, and honestly it was really hard, and I also felt very out of place. I was one of, if not the only, woman of color in the class. I was also a lot curvier than most of the women in class, and certainly couldn’t afford this high standard of yoga clothes I saw.
So as much as I loved the physical practice, I felt really out of place. In 2016 I decided to go through yoga teacher training, in hopes to change what I felt and observed in yoga spaces.
Over the years I have taught hundreds of students, in both community classes and yoga studios. I have made sure to teach classes that are both physically accessible to most, as well as affordable. I serve alongside others within my community to keep creating spaces where all people, and all bodies, feel seen and heard.
To date students continue to return to me, and I don’t believe it is because I am an amazing yoga instructor, I believe it is because there is a feeling. Students feel cared for, they can feel my compassion, I challenge the way they see others and the way they treat the world. I ask that in healing themselves through this practice, they carry that out into other spaces and offer people the same care, love & compassion they have received.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
All roads will not be paved and smooth, we should travel them anyway!
Absolutely not (i am actually laughing out loud at the question) but with gratitude for it all. After COVID, and trying to return to teaching, this was particularly a hard time.
I went through a fairly traumatic divorce between 2021 and 2022. While in the middle of trying to heal my own heart, learn to be a single mother and survive financially, it was discovered that my son had a brain tumor. We slept in a hospital for 6 days, I barely left, only to teach my classes and come right back.
The tumor was removed and benign, however to this day, we still have ongoing appointments to juggle. My son and i are doing well, and despite how hard that time was, all of it was necessary. I believe all things, good and bad, joy and pain….there is purpose in it all
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Yoga Instructor
Yoga studio manager
Appeared on Good Morning America in 2024 for continued work in this community
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/Wellness/video/celebrating-yoga-instructor-back-community-106666156
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I actually always still get very nervous in large groups and classes
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jadelightyoga
- Facebook: @jadelightyoga
