Photo: Fred Terranova
For me, yoga was not love at first sight. I was so uncomfortable I walked right out of the first class I ever took! A few years later, I tried again, taking a Hatha Yoga class in college for credits I needed to graduate. This time, I found myself enjoying the asana, and the "nap" at the end of class even more! I would often be out cold by the end of savasana, only to be shaken awake by the poor instructor after all the other students had left. This experience of safety, rest, and relaxation was what kept me coming back. I have worked seasonally as a park ranger with the National Park Service, and as a result of living in beautiful but often remote areas, I did not often have the ability to take a regular group class with a single teacher in the early years of my practice.
Instead I often used online resources and practiced outdoors in some of nature's best classrooms, which forced me to take ownership of my practice, and to truly find how each asana expressed itself in my body. By 2016, after 11 years of solo practice and group classes whenever I had the chance, I was ready to take my practice to the next level. I received my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification through Yoga Hive and Figure Yoga. I learned how to harness that intimate knowledge of how asanas feel to me and can describe yoga in a way that is clear, concise, and digestible for my students.
I am constantly advancing my own knowledge of the practice by utilizing podcasts, online resources, and books written by some of the world's premier modern and historical yoga leaders. As often as possible I attend continuing education workshops to be sure I am staying current on best practices for asana instruction.
My most recent certification was to become a Certified Accessible Yoga Instructor in 2019 with the Accessible Yoga Organization to learn to make yoga available to ALL students, including those with physical disabilities, aging students, pregnant students, and folks who need the practice modified to a chair or bed.
I teach classes at various locations around the Flathead Valley, and would be thrilled to share my love of the practice with you! I can bring mats, blocks, and blankets anywhere you’d like - indoors or outside. I love teaching special one-time classes or class series for groups of friends at home, to clubs, and other group organizations! I also have a few beautiful locations around the valley I have relationships with, where we can coordinate to meet for a private group session.
I can teach hatha, gentle, alightment-oriented power, and restorative yoga classes. Join me and find out how lovely yoga can be!
Instead I often used online resources and practiced outdoors in some of nature's best classrooms, which forced me to take ownership of my practice, and to truly find how each asana expressed itself in my body. By 2016, after 11 years of solo practice and group classes whenever I had the chance, I was ready to take my practice to the next level. I received my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification through Yoga Hive and Figure Yoga. I learned how to harness that intimate knowledge of how asanas feel to me and can describe yoga in a way that is clear, concise, and digestible for my students.
I am constantly advancing my own knowledge of the practice by utilizing podcasts, online resources, and books written by some of the world's premier modern and historical yoga leaders. As often as possible I attend continuing education workshops to be sure I am staying current on best practices for asana instruction.
My most recent certification was to become a Certified Accessible Yoga Instructor in 2019 with the Accessible Yoga Organization to learn to make yoga available to ALL students, including those with physical disabilities, aging students, pregnant students, and folks who need the practice modified to a chair or bed.
I teach classes at various locations around the Flathead Valley, and would be thrilled to share my love of the practice with you! I can bring mats, blocks, and blankets anywhere you’d like - indoors or outside. I love teaching special one-time classes or class series for groups of friends at home, to clubs, and other group organizations! I also have a few beautiful locations around the valley I have relationships with, where we can coordinate to meet for a private group session.
I can teach hatha, gentle, alightment-oriented power, and restorative yoga classes. Join me and find out how lovely yoga can be!
Resources Leigh Loves
- In continually advancing my own understanding of yoga philosophy and asana, I often look to teachers like Jason Crandall, Judith Hanson-Lasater, Amber Karnes, Dianne Bondy, Bryan Kest, and J. Brown.
- Click here for a link to Jason Crandall’s Pose Breakdowns. His information is well-researched and clearly explained.
- Click here for a link to the Body Positive’s Pose Guide. This site is chock full of great ways to learn, practice, & modify asanas (poses) to suit every body and its individual needs!
- Another amazing resource is Fringe(ish). Shannon is a marvelous human who shares how yoga works for their body. Expect supportive and inclusive guidance on practicing in a larger body.
“The very heart of yoga practice is ‘abyhasa’ – steady effort in the direction you want to go.”
– Sally Kempton
