Meet the Team: Leena, Yoga Teacher

By Lily Lofthouse | 21 January 2025
3 Minute Read

Get to know our newest Yoga Teacher, Leena – join Leena’s Yoga Classes on Monday: 9:30AM & Wednesday: 6:00PM at Instinct.

 

Namaste I am Leena
 
Who am I? I am this moment, this time, this space, continually transforming and evolving. 

My Yoga journey began in childhood, practicing with my grandfather and my wider community, embracing yoga’s holistic essence beyond asanas, into meditation, pranayama, and self-discovery.

I have trained with world-renowned teachers, integrating heart-centered teaching that honours each student’s unique path. For me, yoga and meditation are inseparable practices, reflected deeply in my teaching style.

Breathwork and movement combined with art making and outdoor therapy, planting and growing, creating art in nature with nature are all part of my offerings. I honour the seasons, the moon cycle and various traditions passed down to me from my elders and from nature honouring cultures from across our beautiful planet. 

I crave opportunities to encourage a connection between the body and the natural world. As a nature lover I have incorporated these elements into my own life for as long as I can remember.

Working as an art psychotherapist since 2015, within a variety of educational settings and also within specialist inpatient mental health services, has allowed me to encourage these connections in other people. I have direct experience of working alongside other creative practitioners to create a safe and welcoming therapeutic environment for the most vulnerable people within our community, providing a space to heal and nurture.

Indian tribal dance and connecting to the divine feminine has been an integral part of my life. Dancing with my family and members of my community during festivals and other celebrations is part of my cultural practice, even in our homes and gardens during rituals and ceremonies. Understanding and living this experience I have gained even more insight about how our bodies need to move and flow with the rhythm of the self, individually and as a collective.   

I weave creativity and soulfulness into my classes offering a truly holistic approach to well-being. I LOVE my work.

 

Why did you decide to become a Yoga Teacher

For the Love of sharing this beautiful practice, one breath at a time…..Creating more peace and harmony on our planet, to help others feel the magic of the SELF…
The first 3 sutras or threads from the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali; 
 
Yoga Sutra 1.1 
Artha Yoganushasanam – which translates to – Now the instruction of yoga is being made. It is an invitation to begin the study of yoga as you are, in this moment, the only moment that we ever really exist in. 
 
Yoga Sutra 1.2   
Yogas Chitta Vrittis NirodhaYoga – is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind in order to find unity within. Yoga is calming or stilling the mind chatter or mind-stuff.
 
Yoga Sutra 1.3 
Tada Drashtuh Svarupevasthanam –then the seer abides in itself, resting in its true nature, also known as self-realization. This sutra explains the ultimate result of yoga-the discovery of one’s true nature.
Favourite Asana/pose:
Shirshasana aka headstand – Because I love seeing the world from a different perspective and it reminds me of fun times learning with my Grandad.
Least favourite exercise:
Pull Ups – I have no words….
What motivates you?
Nature, Community, Unity, Peace and doing things for the greater good, for all humanity

Quote to live by:

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing the self is enlightenment.

Conquering others is power; conquering the self is strength.

Know what is enough, and you’ll be rich.

Persevere, and you’ll develop a will.

Remain in the center, and you’ll always be at home.

Embrace with your whole heart

Die without dying, and you’ll endure forever.”

LAO TZU, Tao Te Ching – verse 33

 

 

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