Originally born in Wayne, New Jersey, in March of 1991 Jared Schulte enlisted in the United States Navy at just 17 years old—before finishing high school—seeking a way out of the environment/culture he grew up in and a chance to build something different for himself. During his service, he achieved the rank of Petty Officer and served as an Operations Specialist working on Naval intelligence. He earned the Enlisted Surface Warfare designation and held a national security clearance, contributing to critical operations while traveling to 16 countries around the world. These experiences exposed him to diverse cultures, beliefs, and perspectives that would later shape his outlook on life and healing.

After returning from deployment, Jared’s life changed in an instant. While riding his motorcycle in Coronado, California, he was struck by a car traveling at high speed. The accident left him in critical condition, with doctors telling him he would never walk or run again. He spent nearly a year in a Wounded Warrior hospital recovering from devastating injuries, including shattered bones in his left leg requiring surgical reconstruction with a rod extending into his hip, spinal fractures, and ruptured discs.

During recovery, Jared was prescribed high doses of opioids, which led to long-term dependence. What began as pain management turned into years of struggle, leaving him feeling lost and without purpose.

After returning to New Jersey and undergoing more than seven surgeries, Jared found himself slipping back into the same environment and people he had once tried to escape. Although he experienced success running his own businesses there, he ultimately made the decision to leave everything behind and move to Colorado.

In Colorado, Jared became involved in the legal cannabis industry. He helped operate two dispensaries in Northern Colorado, converting them to recreational operations during legalization—becoming part of the early wave of that transition in the Fort Collins and Garden City areas. He also managed a 50,000-acre hemp farm in Southern Colorado for the Chavez Family and worked as a master grower and consultant for one of the first major LED grow light companies.

Despite financial success, Jared continued to struggle with chronic pain, unresolved trauma, and worsening addiction. While his external life appeared successful, internally he was losing himself.

Without Yoga or a foundation for healthy coping or self-love, Jared’s path eventually led into real life problems and all that comes with it , marking a period of his life where he felt completely broken and disconnected.

Everything began to change with the birth of his two sons, Onyx and Orion, in 2017 and 2018. While the transformation did not happen overnight, his children gave him a reason to fight, a sense of purpose, and a path toward redemption.

Jared went on to win full custody of his children and took on the role of a full-time single parent. His son Onyx was diagnosed with level 3 autism at age two and is nonverbal, requiring significant care and support. Jared became not only his father, but his primary caregiver and advocate. Through dedication and persistence, Onyx has thrived in specialized education and therapy programs, profoundly reshaping Jared’s understanding of love, patience, and compassion.

The early stages of this chapter were marked by anger, emotional pain, and internal struggle. It wasn’t until he stepped into his first yoga class that something began to shift.

That first experience wasn’t perfect—he wore headphones, couldn’t sit still, and felt out of place. But he kept showing up. A teacher who met him with patience and encouragement changed everything, giving him permission to simply be where he was. That acceptance sparked a commitment that quickly turned into a daily practice.

Yoga became more than movement—it became a lifeline.

Jared has now gone on threw the years to complete 800 hours in various teacher trainings and has remained a dedicated student ever since. Today, he teaches across Colorado and works with global nonprofit organizations including Prison Yoga Project and Comeback Yoga two missions that are very important to Jared.

His mission is simple but powerful: to create a space where people can experience yoga without judgment and begin to reconnect with themselves. Through his teaching, Jared emphasizes that true healing, forgiveness, and peace begin with learning how to love yourself and also live healthy in all aspects. Progress not perfection. And to have a healthy energetic output that dosent promote the ego and self like the gym and gives you a better workout

Now over eight years since starting his journey, Jared lives the principles he teaches. Yoga is no longer just something he practices—it is how he lives.

He encourages his students to embrace their individuality, reminding them they are not “one in a million,” but truly ‘‘one of one. ‘‘His approach challenges the surface-level image often associated with yoga and replaces it with something deeper—authenticity, resilience, and self-acceptance.

Jared welcomes all people, regardless of background, body type, race, gender, or belief system. His goal is to empower others to discover their own strength and healing, wherever they are on their journey.

When you leave a class with Jared, he hopes you walk away not thinking about poses or perfection—but with a deeper sense of self-love and an amazing sense of accomplishment.

Keep in touch at Jared Schulte (@yogabyjared) • Instagram photos and videos

theyogabyjaredcompany@gmail.com