We were lucky to catch up with Azia Henry Alisha Edwards recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Azia Henry, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Hood Healers PHL was born from a moment of stillness in the middle of the storm.

We were in survival mode, navigating a pandemic, dealing with loss, stress, and the constant pressure to stay strong. For many of us, there was no pause, no breath, no space to just be. Yet in those quiet moments on the mat, in meditation, or simply sitting with ourselves, we realized something powerful: we were healing, and we weren’t the only ones who needed it.

We looked around and saw our communities hurting. Black and Brown folks carried generational trauma, anxiety, and burnout, but wellness spaces rarely felt created for us. The ones that existed often felt exclusive or disconnected from our reality, so we chose to create what we needed—a space where we could show up exactly as we are and still be held.

We knew this would work because we were living the need ourselves. Instead of solving a problem in theory, we responded to a deeply felt need in our neighborhoods. We brought yoga, breathwork, and healing into parks, school gyms, and street corners, pairing the practice with the vibe, the soul, and the authenticity missing from mainstream wellness. We didn’t just teach yoga; we reminded people that healing is their birthright.

What excites us most is the freedom it gives our people. Watching someone release stress during a deep exhale, seeing a mom and child stretch and laugh together, or hearing a brother say, “Yo, that felt good,” fuels us every day. Hood Healers grew into more than a business—it became a movement and a way to reclaim peace, power, and joy right here in the hood.

Azia Henry, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hood Healers PHL was born from sisterhood, soul work, and a shared mission to make healing feel like home for the communities that need it most.

Azia is a natural-born mover, educator, and grounding presence in every room she enters. A former track star and gymnast turned school teacher, Azia brings discipline, heart, and rhythm into every class she leads. As a first-generation American, she knows what it means to build something powerful while honoring where you come from. Her journey into yoga began in 2015, when she met her future business partner, Alisha, while working at Hooters. What started as a friendship quickly evolved into a calling to create wellness spaces rooted in culture, connection, and care.

Alisha is a passionate yogi, healer, and proud Philly native with a background in accounting and wellness entrepreneurship. She first stepped onto the mat to regulate her mind and body—and discovered a deep calling to help others do the same. Her classes blend intentional movement, soulful energy, and community care, rooted in the belief that healing should be accessible, empowering, and real.

Together, we built Hood Healers PHL, a Philly-based wellness brand focused on breaking generational cycles through movement, mindfulness, and community-centered healing. We offer:
• Culturally relevant yoga classes like Trap & Tone, R&B Yoga, Cannabis Yoga, and Mommy & Me
• Healing hikes, school programs, and youth-centered events
• Pop-up wellness experiences in parks, gyms, and rec centers
• Merchandise designed to affirm, inspire, and reflect our community
• A commitment to holding space that feels safe, familiar, and full of love

We created this brand because we didn’t see ourselves represented in wellness. We were tired of healing feeling like a luxury or something far removed from our day-to-day lives. So we brought it to the hood—on our terms. Our classes are infused with music, joy, freedom, and most importantly, authenticity.

What sets us apart is that we are the community we serve. We know what it feels like to carry stress, generational trauma, and responsibility—and we also know what it feels like to finally exhale. That’s what we offer: spaces to breathe, move, laugh, cry, stretch, release, and come home to yourself.

What we’re most proud of is the trust we’ve built with our people. Seeing folks who’ve never stepped on a mat before show up, come back, and bring their friends or kids with them—that’s the real reward. We’re not just instructors. We’re healers, neighbors, mothers, sisters, and community builders.

To anyone learning about us for the first time: Hood Healers is for you. Whether you’re brand new to yoga or just looking for a space that feels like you belong—we’re holding that space. Healing doesn’t have to be perfect, polished, or quiet. It just has to be yours. And we’re honored to walk that path with you.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my co-founder and now sister-in-purpose, Alisha, back in 2015 when we were both working at Hooters. At the time, we were just two young women figuring life out—hustling, laughing through long shifts, and bonding over our shared love for wellness and deeper conversations. We didn’t know it then, but something bigger was already forming.

Over the years, our friendship grew through real-life experiences—motherhood, heartbreak, healing, and evolution. We leaned on each other during tough times and celebrated each other’s wins. Yoga became one of the tools we both used to ground ourselves, and the more we practiced, the more we realized how powerful it could be if brought into our own communities.

One day, we looked at each other and said, “Why don’t we create something for us?” Something that felt real, accessible, and culturally relevant. That moment was the spark—and Hood Healers PHL was born.

What started as a bond between two women working side by side became a movement rooted in healing, sisterhood, and purpose. We’ve been building ever since.

How did you build your audience on social media?

We built our audience on social media by showing up as our full, authentic selves. In the beginning, we didn’t have a big budget, a content team, or a clear plan. What we did have was heart, community, and a message people needed. We started by sharing raw, real moments—clips from our classes, affirmations we were using in our own lives, and the behind-the-scenes of building a brand from the ground up in Philly.

What really helped us grow was being consistent and being intentional. We weren’t trying to be influencers—we were trying to reach our people. Every caption, every video, every live session was an offering. We made sure our content felt like a conversation, not a commercial. That’s what helped folks connect with us and share our work with others.

We also showed what healing looks like in our world—Black joy, trap yoga, kids on the mat, laughter between poses, and moments of deep stillness. When people saw themselves in our posts, they followed because they felt seen.

Our advice to anyone just starting out:
• Start messy. Don’t wait for it to be perfect. The realness is what people connect to.
• Know your “why.” When you speak from purpose, it resonates louder than any trend.
• Be consistent. Even when engagement is low, keep showing up. Someone is watching.
• Engage with your community. Respond to comments, repost their stories, build real connections.

Most importantly, be yourself. Your story is your superpower. And the right people will find you if you keep telling it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hoodhealersphl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoodhealersphl?igsh=YjVna25kM2h6eWlx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/185SyrAbCY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: https://x.com/hoodhealersphl?s=21&t=g3_T6du4phLNVuhsJJZjug
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hoodhealersphl?si=kzLdUDtDGPkuum1Q