Houston, Texas – For Jessica Garcia, yoga isn’t just a practice, it’s her calling. The proud Houston native and owner of Chandra Yoga has turned her personal journey through anxiety and stress into a mission to help others find peace, purpose, and balance.
“I started practicing yoga back in 2004,” Jessica said. “I dealt with a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. Yoga gave me the tools I needed to deal with stress to find calm inside the chaos.”
Rooted in her Latina heritage and deep faith, Jessica sees yoga as both a spiritual and physical experience. “It was a perfect fit,” she said. “The movement, the breath work, it allowed me to bring my spirituality and wellness together.”
Jessica now brings that message to communities all across Houston. For the last 4 years, she’s hosted classes at Houston Botanic Garden, a solid fit considering the display gardens, natural ecosystem areas and walking trails; but, her reach is as vast as Houston itself. From moonrise sessions on Galveston Beach to full moon sound baths at Autry Park, she meets people where they are literally. “I provide everything mats, props, blocks, straps because I want everyone to feel welcome,” she said. “You don’t need to be rich to find peace.”
Her focus on inclusivity has built a diverse, supportive community. “In our classes, we have younger people, older people, Latinas, people from all backgrounds,” said longtime student Lorraine Andrews, who first found Jessica through a friend. “I’ve had a lot of health challenges. When I told Jessica, she gave me a free session and a full write-up, she never asked for anything in return. I’ve been trying to pay it back ever since. This isn’t just a yoga class; it’s a community.”
That spirit of compassion and accessibility recently earned Jessica recognition at the International Women’s Festival, where she received a wellness award for her work throughout the city.
“It was eye-opening for me,” she said. “To see that people are noticing the work, that they’re feeling the benefits, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about me; it’s about what the community receives.”
Looking ahead, Jessica hopes to continue expanding Chandra Yoga through international retreats and collaborations with mental health practitioners, integrating sound healing into therapy settings.
“My goal,” she said, “is to give people tools to live long, joyful lives — and to remind them they are capable of finding peace no matter what life brings.”