Leesalyn
- Biography
- Certification
- Training
- Professional Membership
- Experience
- Past and Present Students
- Testimonials
- Leesalyn began teaching yoga in 1998 and assists training programs both locally and internationally. Most recently Leesalyn returned from Todos Santos, Mexico where she taught and managed a teacher training program in the ancient gurukula tradition of living, working, and studying with the teacher. In May of 2001, she completed her first 200 hours of training, and has since received more than 900 additional hours of professional training in the Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Sivananda traditions. Her teaching style is reflective of studies in both Vedantic and Buddhist philosophy and practice of Vipassana meditation.
Awakened to suffering and the need for compassion from her farming homestead in upstate New York, Leesalyn's spiritual commitment to non-violence began. Recognized at an early age by school teachers, she was asked to speak with classrooms of peers surrounding issues of compassionate living and making non-violent choices.
Her desire to understand and be understood led her to the State University of New York at Oswego and the University of Connecticut in search of social and psychological answers. Frustrated by attempts toward a material solution, she left for the San Juan mountains of Colorado. While there, she met refugees relocated to this high arid climate from their Tibetan home in the Himalayan region. Inspired by their peaceful and loving faith to overcome adversity and oppression through compassion, her studies of Eastern philosophy started.
In June of 2004, Leesalyn was initiated as Ramapriya (Skt: the Beloved of Rama) into the Sivananda International Vedanta community by Swami Srinivasananda and Swami Sadasivananda. She has practiced various styles of yoga and studied with many senior teachers including: David Swenson, Tias Little, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, Manorama, Wayne Krassner, Shakta Kaur Khalsa, Duncan Wong, Kevin Durkin, and Suza Francina. She has also sat at the Dharma feet of S.N. Goenka, Robert Hall, and His Holiness the Dalia Lama.
Leesalyn enjoys off-the-mat adventures in organic gardening and vegan cooking - exploring new ways of thinking globally while serving locally. She holds a special place in her heart for monkeys and shares their enthusiasm for dancing barefoot in the grass - Jai Hanumanji!
When Ram Das asked his teacher "How can i see God?" Maharaji replied, "Serve everyone." Next time he asked, this time more specific, "How can i know God?" He answered, "Feed everyone."
With these experiences and the grace of my teachers, i don't profess to *know* the body or the mind, nor the course of this journey that we are on. All we can know and be is ourselves. May we all manifest the truth that is within us. Om shanti shanti shanti.
- Ramapriya
- Independent Study, Austin, TX & Todo Santos, Baja Mexico Sur
- 500 hour RYT, Communicating the Science of Yoga, 2008
- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram and Ranch, Woodbourne, NY
- 200 hour RYT, Yoga Sirimoni initiation, 2004
- Yoga Yoga Ashtanga teacher training, Austin, TX
- 200 hour RYT, 2003
- Radiant Child Yoga Development with Shakta Kaur Khalsa, Austin, TX
- Level I & II, 2002 & 2003
- Synergy Center for Yoga and the Healing Arts, Miami Beach, FL
- 200 hour RYT, 2001
- State University of New York at Oswego, Psychology/Sociology Bachelor of Arts
- Cum laude, 1996
- Vipassana Meditation annual 10 day sit
- Since 2005
- Mark Darby Ashtanga Teacher Training
- October 2004
- Manju Jois Ashtanga Teacher Training
- March 2003
- California Yoga Teacher Association
- established in 2001
- Fitness & Wellness Liability Insurance
- established in 2001
- Green Yoga Teacher Association
- established in 2005
- Yoga Alliance Registry
- RYT 500 hr & E-RYT 200 hr Multi
- established in 2001
- Bliss Meditation and Yoga, Austin, TX
- October 2001 - present
- Casa De Luz Integral Studies, Austin, TX
- December 2006 - October 2007
- Seventh Street Yoga, Austin, TX
- March 2007 - October 2007
- Yoga Yoga, Westgate/South Studio, Austin, TX
- March 2002 - September 2006
- Yandara Yoga Institute, Todo Santos, Baja Mexico Sur
- November 2005 - March 2006
- Deva Yoga Studio, Telluride, CO
- June 2001 - September 2001
- Rainbow and Telluride Preschool, Telluride, CO
- March 1998 - May 1999
- Burly House Green Network clients
- Capital School Special Education teachers
- Central Texas Autism Center teachers
- Central Texas Dressage Society riders
- Community Clinical Research patients
- Greenwood Waldorf School students
- Stephenson Preserve friends of the park
- The Wright House Wellness Center residents
- "Her cheerful and enthusiastic spirit are inspirational" ~ Linda
- "Just the right verbal and visual prompts to create a safe and wonderful class" ~ Roxanne
- "Leesalyn was fabulous! I love the energy that she puts into conveying her love of yoga. My knowledge of yoga was expanded today. Thank you. ~ anonymous
- "Who would have thought that at 37 i would be in some of the best shape i've ever been in ~ physically as well as mentally and spiritually. Practicing yoga with you has been an inspiration to me." ~ Jenny
- "I can still so vividly see you teaching about animal abuse ~ you did a great deal of good. You will always be my beautiful, spirited, diligent, and determined "student" and friend." ~ Mrs. Saikkonen 9th grade English teacher
- "Meeting you has positively changed my life, i am very grateful. I haven't had dairy since i left the ashram. I feel my body really heard you." ~ Savitri
- "She is a well received teacher who exemplifies the yogic lifestyle. She is both a dedicated student and teacher with impeccable character and integrity." ~ Mehtab, owner of Yoga Yoga studios
A special thank you to Steven Noreyko for usage of his photograph of Leesalyn which appears above.