Today we’d like to introduce you to Leana Marie Marshall.
Leana Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I introduced to yoga as a therapeutic practice after I was injured in a car accident and diagnosed with chronic neck and back pain. When I found yoga, I found true love! I loved how it made my body and feel. I knew that I needed to share this with other people so I enrolled myself into a 200-hour teacher training in Honolulu, HI! After teacher training, I would try to get my friends to come to class but that was a no go! They were not into yoga and had every stereotypical though about it. They thought yoga wasn’t for black people. They felt they did not have the “yoga body” or they weren’t’ flexible enough for yoga.
So, I had to get a little creative! When I was in class, I would want to move around and dance especially when a song I loved came on. So, I thought to myself, what if I combined twerking and yoga together?? Anddd… BOOM Twerk ‘Til It Hurts Yoga was born!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not been easy at all. I work a full-time job so balancing that and my business can be quite challenging. The traveling, promoting, teaching and holding space for others can sometimes take a toll on my body. However, I would not change it for the world. This is a gift that I was blessed with so I am definitely going to continue to share this gift.
My advice for other women who are starting this journey is to never give up. There were so many times I wanted to quit and I was really down and hard on myself. Remember you are human, take a breath, and be kind to yourself. Know that anything worth having is worth fighting for. So, work hard, but play harder! 🙂
Please tell us about Twerk ‘Til It Hurts Yoga.
My full-time job is a Studio Manager/Yoga Facilitator at CorePower Yoga (North Druid Hills). I wish I could tell you what I do specifically. My job and roles change day to day depending on which day of the week it is.
My love, my baby, my brand (what I am known for and specialize in) is Twerk ‘Til it Hurts Yoga! I am a yoga teacher and space holder (Here’s my twerk yoga bio)
Twerk ‘Til It Hurts Yoga (TTIHY) is an amazing combination of power vinyasa yoga, fitness, dance, and meditation. Set to upbeat popular tracks, Twerk ‘Til It Hurts Yoga is a style of strength training yoga class that tones the obliques, quads, glutes and more. Students can burn anywhere from 300-500 calories, all while having fun learning new and exciting ways to use your body. We infuse yoga and twerk together to create a fun and liberating experience for every student!
In a nutshell, we create shapes in our bodies and add twerk moves to them!
I am so proud that I am able to inspire, coach, and push people beyond their mental and physical limits. I make them sweat and create shapes in their body that the think they could not achieve in a regular yoga class. I can also hold space to make people pour their hearts outs on their mat by crying but also laugh their faces off until their sides hurt!
What sets me apart from others is my desire to want people to learn and feel. When people leave my class, I want them to take what they have learned, and apply it to their own physical practice. I also want people to leave feeling good and empowered to do whatever is they want to do. Not everyone can hold space for people and my specialty is to create a safe environment for people! (That definitely sets me apart from others).
What also sets me apart is that I constantly continue my education. I am graduate school right now seeking a master’s degree in Health Administration. (Graduation date: August 2019). I am also in an Ashtanga Vinyasa 300 Hour Teacher Training (Graduation Date: August 2019). In June 2019, I am completing a training and will be a certified doula! (Let me deliver your baby LOL.) The education and grind never stops for me!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
A good resource that I use is my own body. I get on my mat every chance I get!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twerktilithurtsyoga.com
- Phone: 808-498-5146
- Email: twerktilithurtsyoga@gmail.com
- Instagram: @twerktilithurts_yoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwerkTilItHurtsYoga/
- Twitter: @twerktilithurts
Image Credit:
Respect the Shooter (LaSundra Davis), Leana BYMU, Melanated Chakras
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
