For more than thirty years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside people as they discover greater strength, more stability, and increased flexibility, not just in their bodies, but in themselves.
While my journey began in the fitness industry, it did not take long for me to realize that true wellness is about so much more than physical health. Our bodies tell stories. Our thoughts shape our experiences. Our emotions long to be acknowledged. And somewhere beneath it all is a quiet part of us that already knows who we are.
Souls having a human experience
One of the beliefs that has quietly guided my own journey is that we are souls having a human experience. While everyone is welcome exactly as they are, and no particular belief system is ever expected, this perspective has deeply influenced the way I hold space for others. It reminds me that beneath our stories, our struggles, and even our successes, there is a deeper part of each of us that is already whole.
That realization changed the direction of my teaching forever.
How I work
Today, my work blends yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, energy awareness, life coaching, and personal development into experiences that help people reconnect with themselves in meaningful ways. I hold a number of certifications, including 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Chopra Meditation and Ayurveda Health Teacher, meditation coach, personal trainer, and life coach. But I have learned that the most important qualification is not found on a certificate.
It is the ability to create a space where people feel seen. Heard. Accepted. And safe enough to simply be themselves.
One of the greatest compliments I have ever received is that people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves into the room: the joyful parts, the uncertain parts, the grieving parts, the curious parts, and everything in between.
I do not believe we need to fix ourselves before we are worthy of love or peace. I believe healing begins the moment we stop fighting who we are and start meeting ourselves with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance.
Whether someone joins one of my weekly classes, a workshop, or a retreat, my hope is always the same: that they leave feeling more connected than when they arrived. Connected to their body. Connected to their heart. Connected to nature. Connected to one another. And perhaps most importantly, connected to themselves.
Why retreats
Retreats hold a special place in my heart because they offer something that everyday life rarely does: space. Space to slow down. Space to breathe. Space to listen. Space to reconnect with what truly matters.
Over the years, I have been blessed to facilitate retreats throughout Alberta and Mexico, guiding people through yoga, meditation, energy practices, reflective conversations, and experiences in nature. Every retreat is unique because every group is unique. Rather than following a rigid agenda, I gently meet people where they are and allow the experience to unfold naturally, creating room for both structure and spontaneity.
As someone who has spent decades studying both the science of wellness and the wisdom of spiritual traditions, I continue to be fascinated by the connection between body, mind, emotions, energy, and soul. My own learning never stops, because I believe the greatest teachers remain lifelong students.
What I hope you bring
When you join me on retreat, my intention is not to teach you something you do not already have. It is to help you remember what has always been within you. Because I believe every one of us already carries the wisdom, resilience, peace, and love we are searching for. Sometimes we simply need the right space to remember.
Whether this is your first retreat or your fiftieth, my hope is that you arrive with a curious mind and an open heart. Everything else will unfold from there.
In February 2027 I will be holding that space at Lunita, in the jungle outside Puerto Morelos, for seven days built around the chakras: Coming Home to Yourself. The full program and reservations are on the retreat page, and if you are curious what the jungle itself does over a week, this is what changes.
Namaste,
Leslie
Wellness Defined, wellnessdefined.ca