(“Yoga Bob” teaching Yoga to teens. Photo courtesy of GUC.)
Every story has a turning point, that one moment when everything clicks. At 42 years old, I’ve been blessed with many of those moments. One of the most defining came in Italy, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world went silent. Basketball stopped.
For the first time in my adult life, I had no plane or train to catch, no practice to rush to, no coach calling plays, and no schedule dictating who I needed to be. It was just me, my thoughts, and the four walls of my apartment. And that’s when I started to pivot, again. In that stillness, something sacred unfolded.
From Track to the Basketball Court
I grew up in Compton, California, a city with rhythm, heart, and hustle woven into its DNA. My childhood was filled with busy weekends running track, playing basketball, and dreaming of seeing the world. Track taught me focus, to stay in my own lane while basketball taught me teamwork and discipline.
I have four guiding pillars which I live by. The first – Passion – started early. My parents emphasized education, and I genuinely loved learning. I was that kid who balanced writing assignments with hoop dreams, hungry to expand my mind as much as I loved dunking or long jump. Those passions became my passport to see the world, opening doors to mentorship, opportunity, and perspective.
I played basketball at the University of Washington, where I was a four-year starter, team captain, and earned my B.A. in Writing, because even then, storytelling felt like my second language. Then came the whirlwind summer of 2006, a time that changed everything. In June, I graduated from UW. In July, I was drafted into the NBA. And in September, I welcomed my daughter, AJ, into the world. That stretch of months taught me the power of discipline, timing, and faith. Basketball didn’t just shape my game; it shaped my character.
I played my rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers, sharing the floor with one of my idols, Allen Iverson. Imagine being a lifelong NBA fan, watching A.I. crossing up Michael Jordan on TV and suddenly, you’re his teammate sitting next to him in the locker room. Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe it.
The following season, I was traded to Denver. Halfway through the season, 2 days before my birthday, I was released. Thus began an NBA record-setting event of being traded repeatedly, ending the season having worn five different team jerseys. Even the best game of my career with the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals wasn’t enough to secure my seat. The season was traumatic, humbling, and historic all at once.
Fewer than 5,000 people (less than 1%) in the world have ever played in the NBA. An exclusive fraternity I’m deeply honored to be part of. And within that brotherhood, I can proudly say I left my mark. And I recognized that I would need to pivot to continue to pursue this passion.
When the World Stopped
I decided to stop pursuing my NBA career, and my journey led me overseas to Italy for 12 years. I fell in love with the culture, language, food, and the slower pace of life. I even started telling folks that I was “Comptalian”, a word I created.
When COVID-19 hit, everything changed. Italy became the second country to lock down after China. The uncertainty was heavy as the season was postponed, then canceled. America was watching, not yet realizing the dumpster fire that was on its way. During those months of isolation, I was forced into stillness. No gyms. No teammates. No fans. Just me and my breath. And in that stillness, something sacred unfolded.
(“Yoga Bob” demonstrates poses. Photo courtesy of GUC.)
As a Capricorn and introvert, solitude wasn’t new to me, but this time, it became a teacher. I started watching Wim Hof and Yoga videos, following my intuition toward balance and healing. Breathing, moving, and thinking had always mattered but for the first time, I was using them for healing, not performance. I began fasting, taking cold showers, running outdoors, meditating, reading books, and stretching daily. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was laying the foundation for a new path. That quiet season in Italy became my wellness pivoting point.
Namaste in Compton
When the world opened up again, I played one final season of basketball in Italy and then retired, returning home to America in July 2021. I didn’t know exactly what was next, I just knew I wanted to serve, teach, and give back to the next generation, especially students, athletes, and families in underserved communities.
That’s when the second guiding pillar, Purpose, revealed itself. In September 2021, I took my first vinyasa class in Venice, California. Sixty minutes later, humbled, I knew I experienced something transformative. I returned the next day. And the next. I took all my years of discipline from basketball and put it into my Yoga practice. Three months later, I enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, a decision that felt as if the universe was merging my multiple worlds: the athlete and the yogi, the competitor and the storyteller.
That’s when Grow Unwind Connect (GUC) was born: a global wellness nonprofit with a mission to bring Yoga, mindfulness, and holistic healing to underrepresented communities worldwide, beginning in my hometown of Compton.
Building Community, One Mat at a Time
Three years ago, I began hosting monthly GUC Wellness Workshops around Compton at the Compton Airport, Alma Backyard Farms, and Wilson Park. Each event blends Yoga, breathwork, sound baths, and raffle giveaways with genuine community connection. My vision continues to evolve as I am now working to open Compton’s first Yoga studio.
What started with a few friends, a few mats, and a lot of consistency has now grown into a movement. With support from partners like Give Back Yoga Foundation, we received 50 Yoga mats and began offering complimentary Yoga sessions in schools, which led to my first contract with Lifeline Charter School. The vision was clear, the intention actionable.
Today, GUC proudly partners with the Compton Unified School District, serving all 21 of their K–8 schools through after-school wellness programs. Each week, I guide students through Yoga, mindfulness games, and self-awareness discussions helping them build emotional resilience, confidence, and stillness while winning prizes. My own wellness gameshow!
Through these community experiences, I discovered my third guiding pillar: Peace. Peace isn’t about silence, it’s about connection. It’s hearing kids laugh during meditation. It’s a coach thanking you after class because they saw their players find focus. It’s knowing that the same city that raised me is now being healed, one breath at a time.
(The many facet’s of Jones’s service. Photo courtesy of Pulse10 Consulting.)
From Peace to Profit
My fourth guiding pillar, Profit, isn’t just about money—it’s about sustainability. Through GUC, I’ve learned how to transform passion into purpose-driven income, offering workshops for schools, corporations, and athletic programs that not only fund our mission but reinvest directly back into the community.
I have authored a children’s book, Yoga Bob, which shows children how to use Yoga to overcome fears and find peace and strength through stillness within. I host GUC Literary and Wellness Workshops at children’s hospitals and libraries, using Yoga Bob as an inspirational and actionable narrative, because representation matters. That model has opened global doors.
In August 2025, we hosted our first GUC Wellness Retreat in Florence, Italy. A full-circle moment returning to where my Yoga journey began. The next retreat is set for July 25–30, 2026—five nights of reflection, culture, and connection designed for teachers, couples, professionals, and athletes seeking alignment and renewal.
I once went to Italy to play basketball—and I came away with a new understanding of wellness and life and even community. Now I return to help others reflect, reset, and recharge at a private villa in the quiet beauty of Tuscany.
Gratitude is the Gateway
If there’s one truth I’ve learned, it’s that humility and gratitude are the foundation of abundance. I’ve traveled to over 30 countries and nearly every U.S. state, yet the most transformative journey I’ve ever taken is the one within. Gratitude turned struggle into strategy, isolation into insight, and stillness into strength. Whether I’m teaching Yoga in Compton, leading a retreat in Tuscany, or mentoring student-athletes, my message remains the same:
Grow through what you go through.
Unwind your mind.
Connect to your truth.
Because life isn’t about perfection it’s about alignment, evolution, and the courage to pivot. When you live through Passion, Purpose, Peace, and Profit, every step becomes sacred. The turning point wasn’t just surviving lockdown. It was learning how to be still, how to listen, and how to trust that even in isolation, seeds were being planted. And when the time was right, they began to bloom. My next chapter is to share with others how to do it, how the journey begins and ends on the Yoga mat.
About the Author:
Bobby Ray Jones Jr. is a former professional athlete, author, and wellness leader whose work bridges story, movement, and community. Born and raised in Compton, California, Bobby’s path spans the NBA, 12 years of professional play in Italy, and a lifelong passion for storytelling and youth empowerment. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Writing, he has turned his global experience into a mission to make wellness and creativity accessible to all.
As Founder and CEO of Grow. Unwind. Connect. (GUC), Bobby leads programs that bring Yoga, sports, and storytelling to schools, hospitals, and community spaces — helping children and families build strength from the inside out. He is also the creator of the Yoga Bob children’s series, which channels imagination and resilience while reinvesting proceeds back into GUC initiatives. Through every platform, Bobby champions one belief: that movement heals, stories inspire, and community transforms lives. Follow Bobby on social media here.
