Leslie Blackwell is a God centered, devoted, and spiritual yogi with a passion for what is good and right in the world. She loves all things that are inspirational and positive. Her teaching is an extension of her spiritual journey through the holy science of Yoga.
Leslie is the mother of a beautiful, strong, and loving son. She is blessed with two amazing and fun-loving grandchildren. She is married to a supportive, kind, and wonderful man. These roles in life – mother, grandmother, wife – have taught her the true lessons of strength and fortitude.
Leslie began her journey of health and well-being in the late 1980s, when she decided to prioritize her own health with consistent personal workouts and fitness classes. She began teaching in the fitness world in 1999, when a dear friend asked her to teach a step aerobics class. She was nervous and scared, but decided to just do it! That one class was just what she needed to get past her fear and begin her path toward helping others achieve greater health and well-being. For more than 10 years, Leslie had been experiencing improved health and well-being and was excited to share this experience with others. For several years she continued to train and study in the fitness world and has taught all types of group exercise classes. She also was a personal trainer and accomplished many of her personal fitness goals, including running the Disney Marathon!
Leslie’s commitment to her continuing education as a fitness instructor, and to her own personal health and well-being, led her to the holy science of Yoga. She began to study Hatha Yoga and the science of self-realization in 2004. Leslie completed 240-hour Teacher Training at the NC School of Yoga, and started teaching Yoga in 2005. Over the next several years, Leslie completed the 500-hour Teacher Training, several specialty trainings, and attended numerous classes and workshops to both deepen her personal Yoga practice and expand her teaching skills. Since she started teaching Yoga, Leslie’s teachings have been inspired by and are offered with deepest gratitude for what she has learned from Yoga.
Leslie continues to study and expand her knowledge to help make Yoga accessible to all people. She is a Yoga Alliance Experienced 500-level teacher (E-RYT 500) and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). She teaches traditional Hatha yoga through numerous weekly classes and workshops for all students/levels. She has been training yoga teachers since 2005 and continues to offer continuing education workshops to educate and inspire yoga teachers. Trainings that Leslie offers include Gentle & Restorative Yoga, Children’s Yoga, and Senior’s Yoga. In 2020 she completed her Yoga Therapy Certification, which allows her to assist students through private sessions using specific yogic therapies. Leslie believes it is a true gift to share what you love and have learned with others, so they can, in turn, inspire and help others as well. That is Yoga!
Leslie encourages her students to remember that whatever your path may be, always be strong and true. She wants all people to know that God dwells within the cave of your heart to provide you true freedom and peace.
May God bless everyone and may all beings be free from suffering.
om shanti om
no worries just breathe - yoga with leslie & friends 