Everyone experiences times when life feels overwhelming, stressful and out of control. Through guided meditation, yoga and Pilates, a local health and wellness instructor is offering Buckhannon residents an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with their mind, body and spirit.
Ashley White, founder of Soul Shine and a certified instructor, told My Buckhannon her sessions at Stockert Youth and Community Center are designed to help participants relieve stress, increase flexibility and build strength — all in a supportive and welcoming environment.
“Soul Shine started with me seeking help and healing in my own personal life. Yoga is something I turned to as a coping mechanism for the things I was dealing with,” White said. “Through that, I ended up falling deeply in love with yoga, and I thought, I’m going to get my certification to share this with others, because it helped me so much.”
The community is invited to attend weekly group yoga classes at SYCC on Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m., Thursdays at 5 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. Soul Shine also hosts pilates classes on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:15 p.m.
Classes cost $7 per session and last one hour. Weather permitting, classes will be held outdoors. Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle and their own yoga mat for comfort.
“I look forward to class at Stockert Youth and Community Center,” White said. “My heart is beaming while looking out at my students and watching them be in their best moment. No matter if it is their first class or if they’ve been there from the beginning with me, I embrace every second of watching my students invest in themselves. To me, it’s beautiful. I am honored that they’re trusting me with that, and they continue to show up for themselves.”
White often receives messages from students thanking her for her support, guidance and service to the community. She recognizes her classes help students not only with their physical well-being but with their mental health as well.
“I love the feedback from my students. Weekly, I have somebody either texting me or calling me and thanking me for doing these classes because it’s helping them — not just physically, but mentally, it’s helping them,” White said.
To encourage consistency, Soul Shine offers a “Zen Punch Card.” After completing 10 classes, participants receive a free session as a thank-you for their dedication to their health and wellness journey.
“Allow yourself some grace and be patient with yourself,” White said. “Try it a few times. Just don’t give up after one try. The best investment that you will ever invest in is yourself. You are the biggest project you’ll ever invest in. Be open to new things and don’t live life through fear. Accept where you are — it’s okay where you’re at — and never give up on yourself.”
In addition to weekly group classes, White will host a Book Club and Wellness Support group at Argo Books in Buckhannon on Saturday, May 24. According to social media posts, students can expect a transformative experience combining literature and wellness by exploring the “Holistic Guide to Wellness” by Lennon Publishing. Participants will learn practical ways to achieve spiritual growth, adopt healthy eating habits and create a personalized fitness plan — even with a busy schedule.
For those interested in diving even deeper into wellness, the Soulful Energy Festival will take place Saturday, June 21, at SYCC in Buckhannon. The festival is free to attend and focuses on wellness and community appreciation, with sessions led by experienced healers, guides and wellness practitioners from across West Virginia. Workshops include guided yoga, chakra balancing, sound healing, tarot and intuitive insights, breathwork and energy renewal.
“I wish I loved myself enough to start these practices earlier, because I would tell myself to move forward, start therapy, start yoga, start these meditation practices. You don’t have to be tough every moment of the day. It’s okay that you need help, and it’s okay to ask for help,” White said. “Find your people, let them support you, let them love you through whatever it is that you’re going through, and accept that this is what you need to do to be your best self, to move forward, and love yourself. I think that we get lost in the responsibilities of our lives, and we lose focus on the biggest role, and that’s ourselves. That’s like the worst thing you could ever do is become so busy that you forget about yourself.”
To learn more or to get in touch, contact Ashley White of Soul Shine via Facebook or by email at soulshinewithme@gmail.com.
