Meet Leah Johnson | Yoga Teacher & Personal Development Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think one of the biggest assumptions for the yoga and coaching worlds is that you either have to have it all together or in some way be broken in order to enter into either. The truth is, you don’t. For me you come as you are and as you learn or even unlearn, you naturally grow and expand in ways you never knew were possible. The amount of times I’ve heard people tell me they weren’t flexible enough before coming to yoga is a number I can’t even calculate. The amount of people who have made jokes about why would someone need a life coach, are also the people who privately message me or pull me aside to ask questions they don’t want others knowing they are asking. Both of my worlds (yoga and coaching) offer a place to show up as you are while also holding the space to grow. I believe the more we welcome this duality, the more freedom we will ultimately find.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The best way to learn more about my work is to join me in real life, but since that’s not always possible, I am an E-RYT 500 YACEP Yoga Teacher, Coach, Mentor, and Studio Manager. What that means is I teach yoga to an incredible community and lead yoga teacher training, classes, workshops, and yoga retreats. I also coach and mentor one-to-one clients and small businesses focusing on self-development through mindset, emotional intelligence, energetics, meditation, and Human Design.

I think the thing that sets me apart from others is I have a way of bridging the gap between things in a way that allows people the opportunity to explore things they are curious about, but also not sure where to start. In other words, I think it’s a strength of mine to simplify and deliver information that can often feel etherial or hard to connect with. For example, most people tell me they’re not flexible enough to do yoga, so I simply invite them. When they’re ready they’ll take the invitation. Another example is in coaching when people make jokes about how they should be able to just do (fill in the blank) and I respond with but if that’s not happening now, is it really the end of the world to ask for support to try. These things usually help breakdown any guards and I think that helps to make things feel less intimidating too.

I am most proud that I have found a way to share my knowledge, skills, and experience both in formal and informal settings to help others know how to understand themselves more and teach them how they can share with others. In a world where we are caught up in the hustle and what’s next, I try to empower people to remind themselves of what is and what can be. It’s the gift of my life to do this work, and while I’ve been doing it for 10 years, I know I’m just getting started.

As far as challenges go, I am someone who learns through experience, connection, and trial and error. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced over the last ten years has been finding the balance between doing what I love and not getting burnt out by it. While it isn’t always easy, it’s more than worth it. I often think that people assume the saying, “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” is so blindly true that it can dismiss the effort, energy, and care that goes into continuing to do what you love, especially in the self-development and wellness industries. I had to find out the hard way the art of boundaries, balance of giving and receiving, and making sure not to feel swayed that just because it may not look like a traditional career, it doesn’t mean it does not have its challenges. I was so eager to help people that I almost lost sight of why I started to help people. I had learned the gift of healing myself. When the pandemic hit, of course, that had its tests, but I appreciated that awakening maybe even more than before because it forced me to stop, reevaluate, and make sure I was still doing what I loved and was making my growth a priority too. It has been a beautiful lesson in my life, and if there’s one thing I know, I do everything I do because I love it, but I also do it because it matters and means something more than me. And that is priceless.

What I want the world to know is simply that I’m here. I am here to hold space, breakdown barriers, facilitate connection, and help people come back home to themselves. I genuinely believe that is part of my purpose, to help people come back home to themselves and connect in ways that they may have never known was possible OR that they forgot was possible.

I am excited for my upcoming retreat in Costa Rica January 2023 and Bali June 2023, continuing my partnership with the Denver Botanic Garden to offer some new things there, launching my self-development membership, working with my private clients, and teaching at Life Time Westminster.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well first of all, it is Colorado so everything is amazing, but I’ll do my best to give some good tips. If there is a concert at Red Rocks, that is a must. You will never experience another venue or experience like it. If there isn’t an event there, go visit. It’s breathtaking and if you’re from out of town go enjoy the stairs and the altitude, but please drink water. Brunch is also a must. We are lucky to have some of the best brunch places around. Snooze and Tangerine are two of my favorites. You can also almost always find an outdoor patio to sit outside just about anywhere you go. If it’s summer time and you like the water, rent a SUP board and go to Gross Reservoir. It’s not as crowded as other places and once you’re in the mountains you will feel like you’re somewhere completely different. You really can’t go wrong, it just depends on what you like to do!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my gosh this is such a good question! Anyone who knows me knows that I love my people and celebrating them. I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my unwavering support system including but not limited to my husband, Eric, who believes in me in ways I never knew I needed or could have. To my family who created the strength and foundation I have only come to understand more and more that not everyone gets to have. To one of my best friends, Caiti, who holds space for me any time my brain tries to trick me. To my community who has met me with open arms and continues to ride this wild wave of life and adventures with me everywhere, I am forever grateful to find my people. To my teachers, mentors, and my team, thank you for opening up my world in ways I never imagined were possible. I love you all!

Website: www.leahgraceyoga.com

Instagram: @leahj6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1010681092598773

Image Credits
Headshot by Ashlee Crowden Photography