About me
Toure` Akela Ra is the founder of Southwest Atlanta Yoga, LLC, the Strength Within Aligning Yoga (SWAY) Foundation 501(c)(3), and creator of Metaphysical Hatha Yoga® (MHY®) — an alignment-based practice that integrates sound, subtle-body awareness, and breath to support healing and spiritual clarity. A U.S. Army veteran and longtime yoga educator, Toure` began her yoga journey in 2003 while working in healthcare and deepened her practice in 2016 during a profound personal transformation. She is a graduate of the University of Metaphysics (Sedona, AZ), ordained through the International Metaphysical Ministry, and also a minister with the Universal Life Church. Holding an E-RYT 500 and YACEP® designation through Yoga Alliance, she has led multiple Yoga Alliance–approved 200-hour teacher trainings since 2019. Building on that experience, she created the 300-hour Metaphysical Hatha Yoga® advanced training, intentionally designed outside the Yoga Alliance framework to allow deeper study of subtle-body science, sound therapy, and metaphysical philosophy. Toure`’s work bridges ancient Hatha roots with modern metaphysical insight, weaving together alignment-based movement, intentional breath mechanics, and tuning fork sound therapy. She is trained in trauma-informed yoga (YogaFaith Trauma-Informed, YogaFit for Warriors/Veterans) and has guided Yoga Nidra and stress-reduction programs for communities impacted by violence, including survivors of gun trauma through the SWAY Yoga Foundation. Recognized for her leadership and service, Toure` has been featured in Who’s Who in America and continues to empower students and teachers to cultivate energetic integrity, nervous system resilience, and embodied self-awareness while honoring yoga’s lineage and evolving its practice for modern healing.
