From Academia to Action: The Journey Behind RESPIRA+ and Souls in Training

By Dr. Yuliana Soto, PhD in Kinesiology

After over a decade immersed in the world of research, teaching, and community-based interventions, I’m stepping into a new chapter—one that brings the knowledge cultivated in academic halls into accessible, practical spaces for healing. Souls in Training is my next step forward: a lifestyle platform to share the lessons of mindfulness, movement, and culturally rooted wellness beyond scholarly journals.

👣 My Academic Journey

This path began at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I earned my bachelor's in Kinesiology and Nutrition (2017). I later moved to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I earned both my Master’s and PhD in Kinesiology (2020;2024), with a concentration in Exercise Psychology. My training included both lab-based and community-engaged research across diverse populations—including older adults with and without cognitive impairments, Latina adolescents, and underserved families—focusing on how physical activity and mindfulness can improve mental, emotional, and cognitive health. I began practicing yoga in 2013, and I hold a Yoga Essentials I certification from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. My practice blends elements from Hatha Yoga, Classic Hot Yoga, SKY Breath Meditation, and mindfulness-based cognitive training.

From working with adult day centers to community-based physical activity programs, I discovered my purpose in connecting science with soul-centered healing.

🌬️ The Birth of RESPIRA+

As a Latina researcher, I longed to see wellness practices that spoke to our communities with cultural humility and scientific integrity. RESPIRA+—Relajamiento y EstiramientoS Para IniciaR Actividad (Breathe More: Relaxation and Stretches to Initiate Activity)—was born from that vision.

Developed as part of my dissertation, RESPIRA+ is a culturally tailored yoga and mindfulness program designed for low-active Latina adolescents. It incorporates movement, breathwork, and reflective journaling through a social cognitive theory lens—focusing on emotional regulation, familial values, and self-awareness. The program was well-received by teens who often felt unseen by mainstream wellness content.

What started as a mixed-method pilot is now evolving into something greater: a digital workbook, an app, and a growing library of evidence-based tools. Stay tuned!

🌱 Beyond Academia: Souls in Training

As a T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Medicine at UIC, I’m continuing to explore the science of mind–body wellness. But I also recognize that healing isn’t limited to peer-reviewed papers—it lives in community spaces, on yoga mats, at kitchen tables, and in quiet moments of breath.

Souls in Training is my commitment to bring research into everyday life. Through blogs, YouTube meditations, guided practices, and workshops, I hope to make mindfulness accessible, inclusive, and empowering—especially for those navigating stress, cultural identity, or health disparities.

🔮 Looking Ahead

This new direction is both deeply personal and deeply needed. My academic work has always been about equity, inclusion, and transformation—and now, I’m ready to share that work with the people it was always meant for. Whether you're an adolescent navigating anxiety, a caregiver seeking stillness, or someone simply trying to breathe more deeply, this space is for you.

We’re all souls in training—learning, growing, and healing together.