Meet Leigh. Another community member turned yoga teacher. If you’ve been to one of our classes this Summer Season you probably met Leigh joining us from many different locations since she’s been traveling. She’s one of those inspiring and impressive yogis out there.
Leigh joined us back in July of 2020 and by the end of the year she made it to the top 10 most attended classes coming in third place. She then joined the team initially as a leader of Sober Curious Community Circle after finishing her Sober Curious Yoga Teacher Training. Soon after she made the decision to do the Soul Aligned 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainning with Alex. What’s so impressive about Leigh is that after starting the YTT she had to go under the knife for an ACL surgery. After 6 weeks of physical therapy, some gentle yoga, so much dedication and sometimes just joining the space of an MLPC class she was able to teach a FULL Mindful Flow class. She also celebrated her one year Sober recently (seriously she’s so impressive!).
Leigh with her 200 Hour YTT certificate
This season she’s front and center as part of our team for the Back to School season. So here, I present to you your new yoga teacher...
Where in the world are you? Tell us more about yourself?
Leigh: Currently in Cincinnati, Ohio although we are planning to sell our house and move now that we can work remotely and our children live east coast/west coast US.
How was the Soul Aligned 200 Hour YTT with Alex and what pushed you to become an instructor?
Leigh: I loved YTT so much! Alex got us to practice teaching very early in the training. I really did not expect to teach when I signed up. I just wanted to deepen my practice, but she encouraged me to try. It turns out that I enjoy it! She helped me build confidence, planning skills, and inclusive teaching style.
When did you start practicing yoga (before you started teaching) and how did yoga change your life?
Leigh: I started with Lilias Yoga and You on PBS television in high school doing Hatha yoga. I have always loved it! I used it as cross training and for flexibility as a runner. I started a daily practice at the beginning of the pandemic. It has changed my life for the better! I have found spiritual and emotional support by doing yoga everyday and it has been key in my sobriety!!
If you had to describe your teaching style, how would you?
Leigh: I am still establishing it but I hope that people find me inclusive and welcoming! I try to stay calm and focus on my breath while teaching.
What is the intention you try to instill in your students?
Leigh: To listen to their body and do what feels good for them.
What is your favorite posture? Your least favorite posture?
Leigh: I love so many postures! I like to flow, do inversions and arm balances, and rest in savasana! My least favorite is hero and reclining hero because it hurts my knees. I just had ACL surgery and also have arthritis in my knees.
What is your favorite Mat? And why?
Leigh: I LOVE my Lifeform mat! It has lines to help with alignment, the just right amount of cushion for me, nice grip, and good sustainably for the environment. It is PVC-free, biodegradable in 1-5 years in normal landfill conditions and made using high quality non-toxic materials.
Set the scene for your perfect practice - paint us a picture!
Leigh: Either outdoors by a lake with a nice cool breeze or in my yoga room with the MLPC!
“I started a daily practice at the beginning of the pandemic. It has changed my life for the better! I have found spiritual and emotional support by doing yoga everyday and it has been key in my sobriety!!”
Leigh
What’s the biggest myth about yoga instructors? Set the record straight!
Leigh: That yoga teachers are skinny and super flexible. I have a small frame but I am not skinny. I have worked hard to get the flexibility that I have but I am still not able to do a split or interlace my fingers in Cowface arms.
What will you be teaching next?
Leigh: I am currently teaching
-Mindful Flow 1: Focus on the Feeling Monday evenings at 6:30 pm EST,
-Mindful Let Go: Lessons in Letting Go Tuesdays at 9:30 am EST, and
-Sober Mindful Flow 1: Focus on the Feeling Wednesdays at 6:30 pm EST.
Any advice to newbies teachers/students? (And oldies?)
Leigh: Keep practicing as much as you can. You will never regret making it to the mat. Give yourself some grace and compassion when you practice!
Where do you see yoga in the next five years?
Leigh: Good question!!! Definitely still teaching yoga with the MLPC, but who knows where I will be living.
You still got the chance to book one of Leigh’s awesome classes! Check out the link below for more
Thank you so much Leigh for being the inspiring person that you are! You can read about Leigh, the yoga student, on a previous blog post. If you have any questions or comments for Leigh, please leave them in the comment section below.
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See you soon and may you all be safe, happy, healthy, and free.
Yasir
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