Janessa Mondestin is the owner of Soulthentic Yoga. The concept of Soulthentic is the gel of the word’s “soul” and “authentic”, it came from my experience of walking into yoga studios and feeling like “should I be there?” because they were always predominantly white spaces. As a yoga teacher, I felt this cultural appropriation as if white people own this culture, yet unaware that yoga has roots in India and Africa. My goal was to create spaces where I felt like this was my own living room and you are coming home.
Yoga for the SOUL
Soulthentic Yoga is located at the Island Spa in Edison NJ. A largely Korean owned and operated spa, I walked in there and pitched the idea of doing yoga. They loved the concept but had concerns about a black woman teaching yoga as they were not accustomed to hiring individuals who represent all people of color. As the lead teacher at the spa, I am constantly validating my knowledge to white women who believe I am unqualified because of my ethnicity. My contract at the Island Spa confirms I am bridging gaps to redefine self-care and the notion that these spaces are only accessible to the affluent.
Growing up in Rockland County NY, I wanted to prove that black people can own businesses other than a hair salon or a church. A black woman owning a Yoga Studio was so shocking and atypical that I kept hearing the same question “YOU teach yoga?” I realized my mission was to dismantle the stereotype and ascertain that black and brown people can do yoga, and this is for us, too.
“This is me with my kinky curly hair, NYC accent, brashness, unapologetically BLACK doing yoga”
Black women have always catered toward taking care of family and we have been groomed like that since inception. We are constantly overworking ourselves. Soulthentic Yoga is a space for us where the focus is taking care of self and learning how to heal with our breath. I want black and brown women to own their breath and use it to fuel their body for more life rather than following a life checklist. Understanding the power of your intuition and sitting in your body and saying THIS IS MINE. I never went to anything as a young black girl and was informed,” this body is mine. This breath is mine. This voice is mine.” How can we empower women’s voices if we don’t feel good about our own body? When I am teaching, I spend a lot of time focusing on owning your breath, body, and voice. We have gone numb as black and brown women believing that I need to walk like this…wear that… be this…be that…I need to be something else rather than just be me. I’d love to build a Sister- Girl-Friend foundation where we can support each other in being your true self, grounded, soulthentic.
“I’m good right here and right now. Everything else will adorn me.”
Owning Personal Training, Owning Life
Better Fit Body is my personal training business in NYC. The model is to train the top 3% and provide the luxury feel of direct service in the clients desired space and time. In this male-dominated industry, my expertise is often questioned. When I am walking around Tribeca I get asked, “Are you the nanny”? Men in the gym wonder and ask why are you training with her? After 8 years in the business, I am finally getting respect. I branched out to Yoga because women wanted me to train them for carrying a baby, health, and wellness.
My business is around my passion. As I refined my passion, my personal relationships had to change.
“My race in life is purpose driven, not possession driven. I realized that I was around people that were spiritually and emotionally dead.”
People say I suffer because I am not married and I don’t have children, however, I feel better off because I’m not bound to anyone who doesn’t see my future or support my goals. Anyone that tells me No, I say thank you. No might be for you, but it is NOT No for me.
My hope for women of America is for them to find their voice, their true voice. Not something that has been doctored by what someone else has told them. Be unapologetic on your search. It’s not a destination, it’s a search with plenty of destinations along the way. My ask of women entrepreneurs is, “can you do something more for women and women of color?”. Everyone in this country has benefited the most from women of color and it is now our time to shine!
What do you think?