Renee Watkins

Renee Watkins founded RW Yoga to provide accessible yoga instruction, particularly for individuals in low-income families. Her yoga journey began after receiving a suggestion from her modeling coach to try yoga or Pilates for runway preparation. She enrolled in yoga teacher training at Kali Yuga Yoga, graduating in November 2014 as the first African American female student from the program. This experience highlighted the physical and mental benefits of yoga, inspiring her to share these benefits with a broader community, emphasizing discipline, openness, and internal growth.

Beyond RW Yoga, Watkins’ entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Watkins Productions LLC in September 2016, an event company that grew from her experience with fashion shows and hosting cyphers. Her work extends into the birth services sector, where she founded Your Grace Birth Services. This venture was prompted by an introduction to Kristin Mejia of Homeland Heart Birth and Wellness Collection and her subsequent training with Jennifer Derryberry Mann of Nurture Nashville for prenatal yoga. Watkins also holds certifications as a trained doula and lactation consultant, further expanding her reach in community wellness.

Watkins’ educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from Tennessee State University, though her career path diverged into entrepreneurship. Her approach to business and community involvement is shaped by a philosophy of questioning norms and challenging conventional expectations, a trait she attributes to her parents’ teachings. This has allowed her to build a reputation for consistency, dedication, and a genuine desire to help others within her various fields.