The Work In Workout:
Better Bones and Breathing

Strength, stability, and spaciousness for building strength in midlife and beyond - supporting you in caring for a body you feel great in.

with Leslie Ellis
HeartSong Yoga Sanctuary
Virtual Studio and Wisdom School

 

Midlife asks for a new kind of strength.
One rooted in wisdom, alignment, breath, and presence.

This 6-week series blends science-backed resistance training with mindful embodiment to help you build stronger bones, stronger muscles, and a more regulated nervous system—all while moving at a pace that honors the realities of your changing midlife body.

This is the Work In Workout:
Mindfulness and body care balanced with effective, intelligent strength training that truly works.

Reserve Your Space

Why This Class Is Different

So many fitness classes push intensity over integrity.
Music blares, the pace outruns presence, and bodies do their best to keep up without real guidance - or real understanding of how to move well.

But your body deserves something more thoughtful.
It deserves respect, support, and skilled instruction that helps you not only work harder -
but work better.

Midlife brings shifting hormones, fluctuating energy, changing bone density, and a deeper desire for movement that feels purposeful and kind. You don’t just want exercise.
You want movement that:

  • builds strength intelligently, not haphazardly

  • supports your bones, joints, and posture

  • improves alignment and form so every rep is effective

  • helps you feel clear, calm, powerful, and mobile

  • leaves you in a body you feel great in - not depleted or overworked

There’s no thumping music here.
No pushing through pain or rushing past the body’s wisdom.

Instead, we tune into the sound of breath, the rhythm of your body, and the subtle cues that make strength training both safe and deeply effective.

You will get stronger.
You will work.
You will challenge your muscles and bones -
with full presence, purpose, and care.

 

Schedule & Details

Duration: 6 weeks
When: Monday and Wednesday
Time: 8:30–9:30 am Pacific
Starts: February 2nd, 2026
Where: HeartSong Yoga Sanctuary Virtual Studio (live via Zoom)
Replays: Full year access to all recordings (for missed classes or extra practice)

PLUS! Join now and receive complimentary Sanctuary membership, featuring 6 bi-weekly Meditation & Connection Circles starting in January.
Together we’ll explore strength in all realms, deepening the connection between body, mind, and soul in practical, embodied ways.

 

What you will experience

Each class includes a balanced sequence of:

🔸 Resistance & Strength Training

Bone-building, science-based exercises for midlife women, done mindfully and with proper form.

🔸 Posture, Alignment & Form Cues

Precise, supportive instruction so you always know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how to move safely and effectively.

🔸 Breathwork & Nervous System Support

Breath woven throughout to regulate your energy, reduce tension, and restore clarity.

🔸 Mobility & Stretching (not an afterthought!)

Integrated movement that supports joints, increases agility, and leaves your body balanced - not tight or stressed.

🔸 Integration & Rest

Space to absorb the work so you end each session feeling strong, spacious, and grounded.

 

Who This Is For?

This series is ideal for you if…

  • You’re in midlife (40s, 50s, 60s+) who wants strength training that actually honors your mind, body, & spirit.

  • You’ve been told you need to build bone density, strength, or support your joints, and want to do it safely.

  • You want to get stronger - but not in a gym environment that feels overwhelming, loud, or rushed.

  • You love mindful movement and want your workouts to feel present, embodied, and calming.

  • You want someone to teach you how to move well, not just tell you to follow along.

  • You’re craving a supportive, nourishing movement space where you can build strength, resilience, and confidence at a sustainable pace.

If your body wants strength and spaciousness…
If you want a practice that supports your bones, your breath,
and your whole being…

You belong here.

 

Investment and Registration

Space is limited to 15 to allow Leslie to view the entire class.

$300*

Early bird (before January 22) $222*

On registration, you’ll receive a welcome via email. It includes the Zoom link, and everything else you need, to support you in showing up for the classes, and for yourself, ready to go.
You’ll also receive details about your complimentary BONUS membership in The Sanctuary!

*Some additional expense will be incurred for supplies including hand weights, resistance bands, and yoga props.
You will receive a list of suggested supplies with alternatives you can find around your home, on registration.

Yes! It's time to get strong!
 

Meet Your Guide

Leslie Ellis, C-IAYT, ERYT500
Spiritual Mentor, Certified Yoga Therapist,
Soul-based Coach

Hi! I’m Leslie Ellis, a yoga therapist, soul-based coach, and movement guide for midlife women. I’m a postmenopausal woman, an avid hiker, and have practiced yoga for over 35 years. But I found that yoga alone wasn’t keeping me strong enough, so I started weight training - even though the gym environment has never inspired me! Last year, my first DEXA scan showed bone loss that both surprised and deeply motivated me. Since then, I’ve expanded my knowledge, diving deeply into the science of bone health.

I’m excited to share this journey with you!

I use the wisdom of yoga as a foundation, but my classes go beyond the typical “fancy flows and tricky poses.” In this series, I incorporate focused, effective strength training and breathwork designed to build bone density, improve posture and alignment, and help you feel confident and supported in your body.

I teach in a way that is mindful, precise, and empowering, helping you move safely while building real-world strength - in your muscles, your bones, and your breath. My approach is for women who want to experience the power of mindful movement while also seeing results, creating a body that feels strong, spacious, and alive.

Midlife is a time to move with purpose, grace, and presence - and I’m here to help you create a body you feel great in, open to the rich possibilities of the years ahead.

"I loved my training and the retreat with Leslie. Her gentle spirit, experience and wisdom come through and you know that there is much to learn from her."

Veronica G., Beaverton, OR
Teacher Training Graduate and Retreat Participant

"Without these practices,
I don't think I would weather what is going on in the world nearly as well as I do. Anxiety no longer has the impact it once did.”

Melani B., Arvada, CO
Sanctuary Member and Retreat Participant

"Leslie has a depth of training, experience, and understanding that have been of great benefit to me as a student and teacher of yoga. I highly recommend her as a mentor.”

Maddie Adams, Portland, OR
Teacher Training Mentee

"The sense of sacred togetherness was so valuable for me."

Erin S., Portland, OR
Past Retreat Participant

Count me in for mindful strength!