Rev. Dr. Shelley D. Best, Soulpreneur
Founder, SoulYoga Experience & SoulYoga Collective
RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher
Hatha yoga teacher, pastor and soulpreneur.
This practice is devoted to bridging the yoga divide and making its benefits accessible to “all-bodies.” Our special interest is helping change makers cultivate self-care practices to overcome trauma, heal and relax. By helping and healing leaders — we help and heal the community.
Background
While in her twenties, Dr. Best competed in full-contact tournaments and earned her second-degree black belt in Tang Too Do Karate. When she began to study ministry stepped away from martial arts and focused on her “inward journey” cultivating ancient spiritual practices. Then, just before turning 50, the Spirit called her to travel solo for her first of three month long immersions in Kerala, India studying yoga, Ayurvedic medicine and the soulpreneur leadership of Mātā Amritānandamayī Devī “Mother,” also known as Amma “The Hugging Saint.” In that place she found comfort and acceptance in yoga and friendship with a community of peace loving people from all around the world.
The SoulYoga Collective is a virtual community of Yoga Teachers who provide classes and workshops for the benefit of our global community. If you are interested in joining the practice set up a meeting with Dr. Best, here.
The Darshan [The Blessing]
Dr. Best spent Three months in India over the course of three years with amma. This enhanced her practice.
“The SoulYoga Experience bridges the yoga divide through outreach, education and teacher development. Together, we make the benefits of yoga accessible to “all-bodies” and “all people”and we heal the community by helping change makers cultivate self-care practices to overcome personal trauma so they can continue to change the world.”
When Dr. Best returned stateside she received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification at Samadhi’s Yoga Studio in Manchester, CT under the leadership of Anne Falkowski. Since graduation she has studied accessible yoga with Diane Bondy and Amber Kerns and she is a community member of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. A believer in life-long learning — she is currently completing certification as a yoga nidra instructor with world renowned instructor Tracey Stanley and she will begin a two year training program to become a Mindfulness Instructor with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in 2021.
With a deep commitment to progressive Christian faith Dr. Best has cultivated a reverence for Jewish, Muslim and Hindu faith. With an earned a master’s degree in religious leadership and Doctorate from Hartford Seminary she serves as an adjunct professor. She also earned a master’s in divinity from Yale University.
Rev. Dr. Shelley Best sees “the world as her parish,” and she has traveled extensively through the Caribbean, Israel, South Africa and India as a human rights and interfaith ambassador. In addition to leading the SoulYoga Experience, she is founder of The Soulpreneur Course, teaching Artists, Activists and Spiritual Leaders how to create social ventures. In addition she is the pastor of Redeemer’s Church in Plainville, CT and the founder of The 224 EcoSpace.
www.revdrshelley.com | www.the224.org | www.TheRedeemers.org
“I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my Soul.”
– Rumi”
TESTIMONIALS
“I knew my stress level was off the chain. I just didn’t know how to change. Thanks to SoulYoga, I’m learning how to slow down and breathe..”
“I had no idea I could still touch my toes. I had given up. With SoulYoga, I’m learning about my body today.”
“Showing up is the only challenge. Once I get to the studio, I find my peace.
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“I’m a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. Yoga has helped me overcome the trauma in my body that I was trying to ignore.”
“The music, the movement, the peace. Who knew that worship could happen on the yoga mat?
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