Meet our December graduate feature, Leo (‘24)!
Our next graduate highlight is someone who lives and breathes yoga. Already trained in and teaching Bikram Yoga, he decided to take a leap of faith, expand his practice, and learn a new style of yoga: Vinyasa! A naturopath, a professor, a dynamic and beautifully well-rounded yoga teacher, we are so excited to introduce you to Leo!
Leo joined our koh-mmunity in 2024 when he completed his Vinyasa 200hr YTT in Bali with YogaKoh. Keep reading to learn more about his journey!
Q: Summarize what you have been doing since you got your certification. Where can we learn more about you?
“It took me a few weeks to settle back into my life. Immersing yourself into a 4-week program of personal development can take some additional time to integrate and reorient one’s compass. I already was teaching Bikram yoga, so initially, I continued my teaching practice but I started to develop Vinyasa flows for myself and my personal practice.
I was fortunate to have made really strong friendships with some of the people attending the training, so we were swapping and sharing our flows for feedback. This kept the training alive as it still felt like I had the support of the whole group; we just did not say our goodbyes and that was the end.
It took a few weeks before I taught my first Vinyasa class. Partly due to confidence, and partly due to allowing the availability to come to me. It was a marriage of synchronicity. Both of these two moments arrived at the same time.
This year for me has been a year of Jnana Yoga. Just recently, I completed my Yin Yoga TT and now I have regular Vinyasa, Yin and Bikram Yoga teaching practices. I teach and practice at @soultiger and @BikramYogaBellaVista.”
Q: How has your practice changed since graduation?
“My practice has changed significantly. Previously, I only practiced Bikram Yoga and as a consequence of connecting with YogaKoh, I got to explore the world of Vinyasa. As such, my sadhana has become more fluid and often spontaneous. Without needing a hot room to practice, I can just take out my mat – or not – and let my body flow. It is actually quite liberating to be able to just let my body flow whenever, and however it chooses.”
Q: Has teaching been what you have expected?
“Teaching Vinyasa comes with a different set of challenges than teaching a Bikram Yoga class. Bikram is structured and has a dialogue to deliver within a specified time frame. All of the heavy lifting was done in learning the dialogue. Vinyasa is different. It requires a different investment of energy as each sequence is unique, and putting a flow together initially took time and consideration.
The delivery of a vinyasa class is also different. It requires space for the body to find its place within the posture framework. This requires a different type of delivery style, which I have had to develop, in contrast to the prescriptive methodology of a Bikram class.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
“I am still very much only beginning my Yoga Teacher journey. I plan to do some additional study into yoga therapy and breathwork / meditation practices, as I would like to integrate these healing modalities into my naturopathic practice. Longer term plans are to create a retreat in Far North Queensland, where I can bring my loves of cooking, yoga and natural medicine together.”
Q: What advice do you have for someone wanting to embark on the journey of teaching?
“If you are being called to undertake the journey of a yoga teacher, then now is the time to do it. As we are waking up and listening to our inner voice, we are finding out that we are called to experience our true self with greater authenticity: to immerse yourself into a program that is designed to allow your inner strengths to shine seems the only path to take.
YogaKoh provides such a safe and nurturing environment for the exploration and journey of the spirit. Your mind is quieted and your body strengthened. The training gives you the tools and skills to navigate your life with ease and grace. It also gives you the skills to help others empower their body to meet the demands of everyday life. The time is now. Let your spirit guide you and surrender to the flow that calls from within.”
You are an inspiration, Leo, and we are so proud to see you thriving in all your practices within the yoga world! If you have thought about attending one of YogaKoh’s YTTs, “the time is now." Our YTTs are truly beautiful experiences.
If you are or know of a YogaKoh graduate who is killing it in the yoga world, reach out to us at kohcollective@yogakoh.com! We’d love to share your story with our readers.
Keep practicing!
the Koh Collective
Comments