[7] Stanley earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Media Studies with concentration in video and film production.

She challenges the societal notion that fat-bodied people are "slow and weak," and suggests a change toward a mentality that "strength comes in different shapes and sizes.

[3] Writing in Yoga Journal, Yelena Alpert describes the effect of Stanley's work as "changing the perception of what a yogi looks like.

"[11] In an interview with New York Times writer Jenna Wortham in 2017, Stanley spoke of the Internet's capacity for connecting with a large audience that was geographically dispersed, saying: "There was a niche community of people waiting for a yoga book written by a queer, fat, black person.

[14] Stanley's social media reach and status as an influencer has led to partnerships with commercial brands including Lane Bryant and Motrin.

"[17] A review in the journal Fat Studies called it "readable and relatable;" it also noted that Stanley talks about the importance of the "underestimated and underrated" practices of breath-work and meditation in yoga, but that the book would have been strengthened by saying more about these topics directly.