I believe in the many shapes and faces and sizes of us. That reclaiming our voice is our most important work. And that we can use it to trumpet the good word that we’re uniquely here to offer.

Sometimes an unfurling is catalyzed by a particularly poignant event in our lives, the type that demands we stop everything and give it our full attention.  When we give ourselves permission to step away from daily distractions in order to deal with the immediacy of one of life’s major events, we also enable ourselves to be dislodged from what has kept us coiled up.  Crisis can be a doorway to unfurling.

For Anna Guest-Jelley, the kickstart for her unfurling came in the form of her dad passing away six months ago.

This sort of thing can send us in many directions.  Anna is finding that it has unleashed in her a whole new understanding of what it is to be present to all that is happening in her busy life.  Rather than turning inward to grieve and putting herself on “pause”, Anna is unfurling : she’s unfurling as a yoga teacher, a business owner and a woman.

This is the silver lining to this sad event, for sure.

Anna’s unfurling is about feeling good, and following that.  It’s a deepening of this newfound commitment to staying present that has intensified since her dad’s passing.

That’s right, following what feels good.  This is not an easy thing for many of us.  It seems it should be, and yet for many of us we ignore, we resist, we disbelieve that following what feels good will lead us toward a more fulfilling life.  Debauchery maybe, not transformation!  And yet as Anna talks about in this interview, she’s learning that focusing on what feels good is helping her unfurl further and root herself more firmly.

This is the embodiment of Anna’s life work, Curvy Yoga.  She’s on a mission to help all of us, regardless of size or shape or ability, to live IN our bodies, “…so that we can find, connect with and live from our root truth — all while leaning into the process and practice of loving our bodies.”  

I hope you’ll check out her website and download the most beautiful collection of 36 personal stories about yoga and body image from people all over the world.

About Anna

Anna Guest-Jelley, RYT500, is the Founder of Curvy Yoga, where she writes and teaches about yoga and embodiment as the foundations of a life well-lived (and body well-loved). She is also the Editor of Curvy Voices, a compilation of 36 personal stories about yoga and body image from people all over the world, available free on her website. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Others in the Unfurling Series