Meet Jalisa Evans of Dayton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalisa Evans.

Hi Jalisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, I am an urban yogi, known as Yaya or Mis Evans, but for those who’ve known me since the beginning, I’m Jalisa. I’m proudly born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is one of those places where people may not always recognize the beauty that exists here, but it’s here.

I began practicing yoga after being laid off from my job with the state-MCBDDS. I had spent many years working with adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. It was incredibly meaningful work, especially at such a young age. When I was laid off from MCBDDS, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have a plan. I slipped into a season of depression and frustration.

For the first time in my life, I did nothing. I had two daughters, and we were getting by on unemployment. After about two weeks of stillness and depression, I slowly started moving again—cleaning, cooking, taking care of my natural responsibilities. I became aware that I was actually spending quality time with my daughters. That awareness helped me fall in love with time, the sacredness of it.

I started enjoying the small things: going to the park, cooking slowly, playing with my daughters, having slow mornings and exploring the city. I felt like a kid again; no job, no money, but somehow, joy was present.

With all that time and space, I started thoroughly caring for myself. I went to the gym, developed self-care regimes and routines, tried new things, like ballet and pottery classes. And then one day, I ended up in a yoga class at Day Yoga Studio. To this day, I still don’t know what led me there.

The first class in February 2019 started my journey of practicing yoga. In 2023, I became a 500-hour certified yoga instructor. I trained under the guidance of Amy Fecher at Indigo Yoga, a true guru who continues to challenge me—on and off the mat today! My spiritual advisor, AP, has been a guiding light on my yoga journey, always reminding me of who I am through scripture, heartfelt and tough dialogue, divine protection, and steady guidance.

When I first started, my yoga practice was driven by ego and competitiveness. But there was a moment in class that shifted everything. I was instructed to open my arms wide as if receiving a hug. I could do it physically, but I felt resistance. Fear. That moment told me I had some healing to do. I kept practicing. And one day, without thinking about it, I returned to that posture and my arms opened fully, tears flowing down my face. It was magic! Something inside me shifted. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I knew I had touched something divine.

Now, I’ve recently committed to a deeper practice through Ashtanga yoga, and I’m seeking teacher training rooted in Kemetic yoga principles. The discipline in my practice comes from life’s challenges of the human experiences: fear, fatigue, pain, grief, anxiety, confusion, shame, you name it.

Yoga has helped me rewire my nervous system and build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with my subconscious thoughts, allowing me to respond to life with greater awareness and peace. Yoga has taught me how to feel, how to truly feel and that it is safe to embrace the emotions and experiences of life.

Yoga has taught me the art of slowing down, being present and moving with intention. Meditation has shown me the meaning of true focus, while breathwork has been a mirror and medicine reflecting my state of being and allowing me to shift it with intention and grace. Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that yoga lives in everything.

One of the most beautiful gifts yoga has given me is the journey of studying and knowing myself and in truly knowing myself, I’ve come to know God. Yoga helped me return to God. It reminded me that I can see myself in everyone and everything. That’s what keeps me inspired, knowing that I am all things, and all things are me.

I knew I had to share this sacred practice, especially with black and brown communities because of the magic and healing it holds. Representation matters, when others see someone who looks like them embodying this practice, it may inspire them to embrace the practices of yoga and meditation too!

I’ve shared the practice of yoga in yoga studios, rehabilitation centers for substance abuse, facilities for adults with disabilities, with high school athletic teams, in child care centers with professionals, children, and parents, at public libraries, hospitals, sisterhood organizations, private sessions, and community events.

I’ve also had the honor of hosting Gem City Yoga Day, a free yoga initiative created to inspire and empower people in underserved communities to practice yoga. Most recently, I was grateful to be part of Cincinnati Yoga Day, continuing to expand the reach of healing, movement, and mindfulness through the beautiful practice of yoga.

Each experience reminds me that yoga is for everyone. I’m excited to keep growing and sharing this practice in more spaces where healing, connection, and presence are needed most.

One day, Yaya Yoga will become a full health and wellness center, a place rooted in love, offering yoga, massage, juicing, breathwork, sound healing, detoxing, prayer, community, connection, and pure authenticity. A sanctuary where people can come home to themselves.

The practice of yoga is teaching me that the only way out is in. I will always be a true yogi, one who seeks union with the Divine or higher self through disciplined practices such as meditation, breathwork, ethical living and physical postures. I am committed to the path of self-awareness, inner peace and spiritual growth.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape my growth both personally and as a yoga instructor. I’ve faced emotional and mental detoxes that were deeply intense. There were times my body felt heavy, my mind foggy, and I felt emotionally raw, especially when I was disconnected from my meditation practice. But even in those moments, I made the conscious choice to keep showing up. I trusted that the feeling would pass and that consistency, even without clarity, was a form of self-love.

One of my biggest lessons has been learning non-attachment, how to love deeply without clinging. That hasn’t always been easy. I’ve had to explore the difference between holding space and holding on. There were seasons where my spiritual practice felt distant, and I questioned myself. But even then, I still returned to my mat, my breath, my silence, knowing that the connection would eventually return, and it always did.

Financial and legal struggles have been real too. I’ve had to manage credit disputes, navigate a debt collection lawsuit, and rebuild my savings, often while still keeping my business afloat and caring for my daughters. Through it all, I’ve remained committed to my values and my responsibilities.

As a black woman in wellness, I’ve also felt the weight of representation. It’s not just about practicing yoga, it’s about making sure black and brown communities feel welcomed, seen, and safe in spaces that haven’t always been created with us in mind.

And of course, balancing it all, being a mother, a business owner, a yoga teacher, and a community leader, has its challenges. I’ve had to learn how to hold space for others while not abandoning myself. That’s still a practice I return to daily. I believe yoga is more than movement, it’s a way back to self, a path to God, and a daily reminder that I was created to live, to feel, and to thrive. This is the work I offer, and this is the life I continue to breathe into every day.

So no, the road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been real, authentic and worth it!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I practice and study myself daily through yoga and meditation. That dedication to my own growth is what allows me to share authentically with others, what I’m learning, what I’m feeling, and how I’m evolving. I specialize in gentle yoga flows using the blueprint method, focusing on creating space for healing, reflection, movement and release.

I’m most proud of simply being myself, unapologetically and without fear, even as I continue to grow and change. Yoga has given me the courage to step out of my comfort zone, to embrace failure, and to show up through every emotion. I’m proud of completing my 500-hour teacher training, proud of showing up on my mat no matter what I’m carrying, and proud of not giving up on love, within myself and in the world around me.

What sets me apart is how I show up. I bring honesty, vulnerability, intention, and heart. Some days I show up a little messy, some days strong, some days unsure, but always as my full, authentic self. I’m far from perfect, but I always show up with love.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I don’t have a lot of advice on finding a mentor, but I do believe a true mentor should always lead you back to yourself. That’s the kind of guidance that sticks and transforms.

When it comes to networking, what’s worked for me is showing up authentically and with intention. I try to keep an open mind, lead with integrity, and communicate from both my intuition and my heart. It’s less about trying to impress and more about making real, meaningful connections. That’s where the magic happens.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misyayayoga?igsh=aWQ2eG83bm9ycHBw&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B5Ffm6EzN/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@misyayayoga?si=HoNCewzzSBcOWQaL