Leslie Ellis
Yoga is a journey that I am thankful for everyday. I can honestly say that my life is what it is because of yoga and all that it has lead me to.
I took my first yoga class when I was in my twenties. At the end of that first class, I thought, “I would like to teach this.” I knew that it could help me and help others. In my job as an occupational therapist, I was already teaching stress management and relaxation but I felt right away that yoga could add a whole other layer to what I already knew.
During those years, I also was also dealing with my own stress, including an anxiety disorder and depression. Yoga was one element of the path I chose to learn to deal with my issues and had a great impact on my eventual health and happiness.
For 12 years I took classes and occasionally practiced on my own at home. Then I started taking workshops and practicing more and decided I really wanted to pursue teaching. I took a short teacher training, mentored with my teacher and started to teach my own classes. At some point, I was teaching 6 classes/week and working at my OT job full time and I realized that it wasn’t sustainable and I had to give something up. My yoga classes were too important to me and were helping to keep me sane…..I quit my job and started teaching full time. That was in 2000 and I have never looked back. I love teaching yoga.My studies have been varied over the years but my greatest influences have come from John Friend of Anusara Yoga, Mary Paffard from Ukiah, CA and Angela Farmer who currently lives in Greece. These amazing teachers have all shared very different approaches to yoga and have each inspired me to a place of pursuing my own authentic practice. They have each supported me in deepening my understanding of yoga and of myself in profound ways and I am incredibly grateful to all of them.
I was affiliated with Anusara Yoga™ for several years and still feel that the system gives me a foundation that is unparalleled in its focus on physical alignment accompanied with the grace of inspiration and heart-fullness. My more recent studies with Mary Paffard have deepened my perspective in the power of the feminine aspect of the self and have helped me to embrace the permission to truly be myself as a teacher. I have also pursued some studies in Buddhism and have established a meditation practice that deeply influences my teaching of yoga.
On a personal note, I have a wonderful husband, Carl, and 2 lively pups who keep me busy with walks and belly rubs. I am also an avid organic gardener and love hiking and travel.
HeartSong Yoga and Wellness Center grew out of my love for yoga and for community and it is intended to be a place where others can explore themselves in those contexts.
Namaste’ and many blessings to you!
