We recently connected with Shanell Ferris and have shared our conversation below.

Shanell, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents were great inspirations to me. My mother always showed up as her authentic self as an artist/model, she was fearless and always expressed kindness to others. I inherited her engaging creativity, warm-heartedness and beauty (inside and out).

At a young age my father taught me the importance of reflection and mindfulness. Taking time out of my day for introspection, carving out quiet time for myself and seeing what comes up. (thoughts , emotions, experiences, etc.)

In regards to business I learned integrity, respect and selflessness through services, Also. the importance of service to my community without monetary gain as a sole motivation, building a community of connection, care and fellowship.

Shanell, 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?

My name is Shanell Ferris I am a certified yoga/aerial instructor and wellness entrepreneur. My yoga journey began in 2011, I took yoga as an elective class in college. Yoga became a great teacher in navigating the stressors of being a college student, living off campus supporting myself, and maintaining health and wellness .

Learning the asanas, the Niyamas and Yamas, flowing in unison with a large class of 30 plus students made me truly enjoy the philosophies of yoga, the fundamentals and the community aspect. I started taking more classes online and in person, experiencing great joy moving my body and relief when I practiced. I wanted to share with everyone , especially my community people of all shapes, ethnicities, socioeconomic status who would feel embraced and welcomed.

I launched the Sunshine Shop LLC during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, when life was so uncertain. I felt like it was the best time to bet on myself and do some good in the world that felt like hope was dwindling by the day. The Sunshine Shop LLC is a wellness brand centered on spreading sunshine, light and good vibes to the world. The self- care packages are filled with affirmation cards, journals, mini meditation bowls, wild-crafted herbs and so much more. Products and services also include yoga jewelry and classes.

I am most proud of my growth as a yoga practitioner from not having access to yoga to incorporating all styles of yoga, Bikram, Kemetic, Restorative, aerial and so much more.

Since the launch of the Sunshine Shop LLC , I’ve conducting classes with Our Sisters Keeper, Jared Hearts of Success , Mimi Yoga Kids, Gun violence initiatives for survivors, domestic violence programs, grief circles, etc. I am grateful to be able to do something I’m passionate about and curating safe spaces for my community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I completed my BA in Mass Communications with a concentration in print journalism. I enjoyed news reporting, scriptwriting, and creating within the different forms of media. Story telling has always been at the forefront, my dream was to be an actress since I was a young girl. After undergrad, I started my career as an extra working on sets like the CW shows The Originals and Legacies moving up to stand in work and principal roles in major/independent films and commercials. The entertainment industry was difficult to break into and I was looking for my big break.

Like most young adults after college I was searching for how to become successful. I struggled to find my footing finding flexible jobs while I enjoyed set life. Soon after I fell into a deep depression, dealing with heavy anxiety and suffering from trauma and grief from my childhood and young adult life that I suppressed throughout the years. Everything was at a standstill, I was fighting battles within. While I was working at one of my odd jobs, a stranger came up to me and stated “You seem to always have the weight of the world on your shoulders”. She asked me to take a simple generic online test to see what mental disorders I was truly struggling with. I indulged her and when I received the results I broke down in tears, which was a rarity for me because most of my life I suppressed my anger and emotions. I was grateful for her, that conversation helped jumpstart my healing journey. I began my daily yoga practices, weekly therapy sessions, connecting back with nature, EFT tapping, meditating and acupuncture those were a few wellness systems I implemented in my life.
When I was ready to get back into being on set and engaging with my peers the Covid 19 pandemic struck the world. The global outbreak shifted everything, from friends and family going through the sickness to a massive amount of untimely deaths. Work as I knew it changed, I started thinking about how to positively impact the world and pivot my career into wellness. It was something I was already doing for self and could extend to my neighbors, peers and family.

I deepened my yoga practice and started aerial classes, having fun and healing my inner child. I curated classes and safe spaces for the youth, daughters without mothers navigating life with grief, domestic violence victims through trauma- informed yoga, anime cosplay yoga and so much more. I am grateful to be able to enjoy the spiritual liberation from yoga and not only connecting my mind body and spirit but my community as well and I am just getting started.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are a plethora of resources that impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy .

Yoga from the inside Out by Christina Sell
The body keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
All about Love Bell Hooks
Light on yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga by B.K.S Iyengar
Awakening Shakti: The transformative power of the Goddess of Yoga by Sally Kempton
Get Good with Money by Tiffany Aliche

Also, some podcasts,
Calm It Down Chad Lawson
Small Doses Amanda Seales
DOAC Steven Bartlett
Lovers Shan Boodram
The Garyvee Audio experience Gary Vaynerchuk
On Purpose Jay Shetty

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Shanellferris
• Youtube: Shanell Ferris
• Other: Instagram: thesunshineshopco

Image Credits

Jida Amira Productions
Photography by Liyah