Our lovely Léa is an instrinsic part of the Luna community. Teacher, LYTT staff member, mental health specialist and mother of a toddler, this wonderful human being is so full of light, we wanted to shine a little back on her.
How long have you been teaching yoga for?
6 years! Since 2015, I started to practice teach to some friends before I was done my teacher training, I could not wait.
I wasn't sure I'd want to teach when I signed up for the teacher training, but ended up getting hooked.
Where did you do your Yoga Teacher training?
I did 2 trainings at Luna, the LYTT in 2016, the advanced a couple years later, and the Jivamukti TT last year.
Where have you taught yoga?
I started teaching at my work place, while I was a Research Coordinator at the Douglas Hospital. And at my local community center. I moved to New Brunswick for a year where I taught at the YMCA and subbed at the Moksha studio. Since I moved back to Montreal in 2018 I have been teaching at Luna, and have taught pre- and post-natal yoga classes from home during the pandemic.
What else have you done with your TT?
I have given special classes or workshops on topics that I specialize in; assists, and mental health. I taught several donation classes at Luna to raise funds for mental health, or for other causes.
In non-yoga settings I have given presentations about work-life balance and tools to better manage our lives, including mindfulness.
For the last 2 years I have also had the pleasure of being a faculty member of Luna Yoga; teaching part of the history of yoga, yoga philosophy, meditation and assists.
Do you have do other work?
Yes! My full-time occupation is PhD candidate at McGill University in Mental Health Research. I focus on school bullying and mental health in adolescents, and study the contribution our genetic composition and other environmental factors influence that association.
Does being a yoga teacher and PhD student have anything in common?
Definitely, well, there’s the mental health aspect where there’s some overlap. Specifically with questions around tools we use to be more resilient to whatever life throws our way.
I also use my knowledge in yoga to approach my work and life with compassion and mindfulness.
And I use my research skills to explore topics in yoga such as meditation.
There’s a lot of research on yoga these days so it’s actually a really exciting field to research.
How do you balance both?
I found that I balance work and life better since I’ve been a yoga teacher. On the one side I take time to plan my classes and teach them every week.
But on the other, that’s also what helps me keep my own practice going. And allows me to come back to principles of yoga that I want to integrate in my every day life; compassion, mindfulness. Teaching yoga serves as a constant reminder in my own life to take care of myself, listen to my mind and my body.
Do you see yourself doing both in the next 10 years?
Absolutely! I don’t think that you necessarily have to choose one or the other. In fact, in my Jivamukti training one of the teachers mentioned that it is encouraged to not just live off of being a yoga teacher, so that it doesn’t become the only source of income; so not to be too financially dependent in being able to teach. But I have to add that doing it full-time can also be the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of yoga, which some people want to do.
Interested in spending a little time with Léa on the mat? Check out her classes every week:
Tuesday at 6pm — Yoga Flo 2
Thursday at 6pm — Jivamukti