An Enlightened YogaBeez Success Story – Meet Leanne Lucas!
Leanne Lucas is a true YogaBeez Success Story
How did you first begin working with children?
I started off my career with a diploma in Early Years and a degree in Primary Education. I taught for 8 years at a local primary school teaching 8 wonderful classes and leading the PE curriculum. My heart always rested with the wellbeing of each and every pupil who walked through the school door. Teaching is tough – it can be stressful and you can feel like you are never doing enough.
This led me to accept a once in a life time opportunity to move to Shanghai, China to support the opening of a bilingual kindergarten school, where I worked as a Year 1 teacher. It was here that my eyes were opened to more holistic methods of looking after my mental health and wellbeing. After my China adventure, I returned home and decided to train in counselling, which I am still pursuing now.
What led you down the path towards becoming a Children’s Yoga Teacher?
During this journey of discovery, I invested in practicing yoga for myself more and more. This led me to think about how I could bring the benefits of yoga and mindfulness into the lives of children within my local area.
How did you discover the YogaBeez Children’s Yoga Teacher Training platform?
I searched for Children’s Yoga Teacher Training Courses and like magic – I saw that YogaBeez was bringing an in-person training to Leeds! As this was only an hour and a half away from me – I signed up immediately and I have never looked back!
Bryony really inspired me and supported me to feel like I could truly achieve this dream. My passion was ignited and I started teaching 2 children’s yoga classes at the weekends.
Describe your journey from Training to Teaching?
My business grew and grew from these initial classes and I now teach children’s yoga, family yoga, yoga with puppy cuddle therapy, themed yoga (Barbie is my next workshop), family bedtime yoga, SEN yoga, holiday camps and a weekly Home Ed yoga afternoon. I enjoy it because I am passionate about it and I am passionate about it because I enjoy it!
It is wonderful that I have recently been employed by a nursery, primary school and high school to provide yoga workshops within the school day. I absolutely adore seeing the children grow in self-belief and confidence and I am grateful for the moments of support I can provide families in my community. It really feels like I am making a positive impact and that is such a fulfilling feeling. I feel like I am my true, authentic self through teaching yoga and therefore I feel great happiness.
What was the biggest benefit of doing the YogaBeez Course?
Starting up your own business can be hard and lonely… It is for this reason that I am forever grateful to the amazing friends I made on the YogaBeez course. We keep in contact regularly – sharing lesson plans, top tips and moral support. There is a real sense of community and comraderie where we can lean on each other for ideas and encouragement.
You can find out more about Leanne’s yoga business ‘Enlighten’ via her website www.enlightenkidsyoga.com
You can also find our South African YogaBeez Success Story here https://yogabeez.com/south-african-yogabeez-success-story/
